Uganda and Tanzania become last-minute participants in the ninth Jerusalem International Book Fair, which opened here officially tonight. Some 55 countries are participating in the fair, which is considered the second largest in the world, second only to the Frankfurt fair. Seven kilometers of bookstalls will show the works of 1200 publishing houses to the Israel public during the week-long fair.
The Ugandan and Tanzanian participation came after Edwin Wainaina, executive director of Kenya’s East African Publishing House, told fair organizers that he also represented publishers from the two countries. The books are mainly in English and Swahili.
The Jerusalem Book Fair differs from that conducted in most other countries in that it is open to the public. Fair organizers expect a turnout of some 200,000 Israelis, most of whom are not employed in the publishing business.
Two highlights of the event include the awarding of the Jerusalem Prize to Sinlsaiah Berlin, in the presence of Premier Menachem Begin, and the display of the recently-signed Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty.
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