Swedish literature to hit UAE market

Sweden has been chosen as this year’s Country of Honour at the 24th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), taking place from April 30 to May 5. An agreement was signed on Sunday between the two parties, meaning that a lot more Swedish literature will hit the UAE market in the near future.

“One of the outlines of the agreement is that we will give extra support to Swedish translations during the fair,” explained Dr Ali bin Tamim, manager of Kalima, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority’s (ADTCA) publishing house from foreign languages into Arabic.

According to him, most of the $4,000 awarded to translation rights during ADIBF, will be given this year to Swedish translations.

“As guest of honour this year, Sweden will showcase a variety of culture, from different genres of literature to illustrations, food and music,” said Max Bjuhr, Swedish ambassador in Abu Dhabi.

One of the largest at ADIBF 2014 — 96 square meters — the Sweden’s pavilion will host 20 of its homeland authors, poets and illustrators, from literature, fiction, drama, crime, biographies and children’s books. Among them will be Martin Widmark, whose children’s books have been most borrowed from Swedish libraries for the past three years.

In fact, children’s books are what Swedish literature is most known for.

“Our most popular author is Astrid Lindgren who sold 145 million of her children’s books worldwide,” said Bjuhr.

Promoting not just literature, but Swedish culture in general, the Country of Honour’s pavilion will also feature cook book author and chef Johanna Westman as well as children workshops aimed at stimulating an inherent drive for creativity and self expression.

After the GCC countries in 2013, UK in 2012 and France in 2011, choosing Sweden as Country of Honour is a refreshing surprise.

“The idea came in April last year, when Sweden had six poets at the Abu Dhabi book fair. One evening we invited all six poets at the ambassador’s residence, where they all recited Swedish poetry in Arabic. Our ADIBF guests thought we should have more such events, and this was the seed for us becoming the 2012 guest of honour,” explained ambassador Bjuhr.

Held as in previous years at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the ADIBF 2014 will be even bigger than the 2013 one in terms of space, by 10 per cent.

The number of exhibitors too has risen to 1050 from 1025 last year. — silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE