On the occasion of World Book Day, April 23, 2024, a look back at the OIF’s actions in favor of French-speaking literature and the need to promote their discoverability.
In the digital age and omnipresent screens, books and reading could seem threatened, relegated to the status of vestiges of a bygone era. However, far from being outdated, they remain more essential than ever for our individual and collective development.
The book gives access to unsuspected knowledge, immerses us in distant universes and confronts us with reflections that enrich our vision of the world. Whether through fiction or essays, he invites us to escape, to empathy and to the discovery of ourselves, as well as others. It allows us to live multiple lives, to cross the boundaries of time and space, and to confront realities different from ours.
The Francophonie, a melting pot of diversity to be preserved
In the French-speaking world, the promotion of books and reading is of particular importance.
A multilingual and multicultural space in essence, the Francophonie conceals a literary wealth of immense diversity, vitality and dynamism. The promotion and dissemination of French-speaking literature constitutes a major challenge for the sustainability of the book industry in Francophonie.
From the Maghreb to the Indian Ocean, from the Caribbean to the Pacific, French-speaking authors continue to tell the world in its complexity and beauty, contributing both to the enrichment of French-speaking culture and to intercultural dialogue.
The 5 Continents of La Francophonie Prize and the Ibn Khaldoun-Senghor Translation Prize are convincing examples. They play a crucial role in promoting French-speaking literature. The first rewards each year original works of fiction written in French by authors from 5 continents, while the second honors translators who contribute to the circulation of literary works between cultural areas. French and Arabic speakers and nourish interculturality.
The discoverability of cultural content, a crucial issue for the Francophonie
The discoverability of French-speaking content is more than ever a question at the heart of the priorities of the Francophonie. At a time of the rise of digital technology and the new opportunities it offers for the dissemination of literary works, it also poses challenges in terms of access, visibility and protection of copyright.
It is important to support initiatives that aim to strengthen the discoverability of French-speaking content, such as the creation of digital platforms dedicated to French-speaking literature, the establishment of translation and dissemination programs for French-speaking works abroad, and the organization of literary events promoting meetings between authors and the public.
Faced with the challenges of discoverability and accessibility, it is necessary to mobilize all stakeholders in the book and reading industry: authors, translators, publishers, booksellers, public and private institutions.
Supporting creation, encouraging training, raising awareness of digital challenges, facilitating translation and promoting reading among all, particularly young people, are all essential actions to strengthen the book industry and guarantee its vitality, as well as future of our cultures.
