The International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat brings together booksellers from across Morocco and around the world, offering readers a rich selection of books. At Ibn Battuta Hall, a tribute was paid to those who devoted their lives to preserving books.
To be a bookseller in Rabat is to make a beautiful, deliberate choice. This is a valuable time to celebrate the booksellers of Rabat, the City of Lights and this year’s prestigious World Book Capital for 2026. It is a recognition to those booksellers who have dedicated their lives to the preservation of literature and books. Day after day, they organize the shelves that line our streets, ensuring that knowledge remains accessible to every curious mind and that stories continue to circulate through the hands of the people.
These individuals are considered as the heartbeat of Rabat’s intellectual culture, bridging the gap between the solitary act of writing and the community joy of discovery.
Among those honored were Abdelkrim Bazik, Ibrahim Hannach, and Mohamed El Azizi, whose dedication stands as a testament to the enduring power of literature and the guardianship of cultural memory.
Beyond the storefronts, these booksellers serve as the city's unofficial librarians and mentors. In the bustling medinas and the modern avenues of Rabat, they create small havens of stillness. Their expertise helps navigate the vast sea of titles, turning a simple novel into a journey of enlightenment. By keeping the flame of literacy alive, they transform the “City of Lights” into a true place of wisdom for the entire world.
As an honor their contribution, the tribute recognizes that their work is essential to the soul of the city. It celebrates their resilience, their deep knowledge, and their unwavering belief that a book in the hands of a reader is one of the most powerful forces for change.
