Music, color and heritage. That was what abounded on Sunday at the closing of the 20th edition of the Venezuelan International Book Fair.
At the end of the afternoon, the Minister for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, was in charge, together with Raúl Cazal, president of the National Book Center, of the formal closing of the meeting that, for ten days, brought together more than one hundred exhibitors at the National Art Gallery.
During his speech, Villegas announced that, as in previous years, Filven will visit the entire country. “It goes to all the states of the Republic so that it is truly Venezuelan.”
Cazal, for his part, said that in 2022 all states will be visited. “But since the time was very short in 2023, we were able to cover only 85%. Therefore, we are going to start the tour with those who were left pending.”
For her part, the ambassador of South Africa (guest of honor country), Lindiwe Maseko, thanked the authorities for the recognition, and announced that her country hopes “that Venezuela can be our first guest. The fair gave us a special moment, because it included July 18, Mandela Day, which allowed us to remember this global icon. We also celebrated that it culminated with the celebration of Children’s Day.”
It was also announced that Egypt will be the guest of honor country for 2025. Its ambassador, Kareem Amin, said that they accept “this nomination with great honor.”
We will work from now on to have a great exhibition on different aspects of Egyptian culture, with authors and even books from ten thousand years ago,” he said.
Likewise, Pedro Sassone, Vice Minister of Comprehensive Care for Venezuelan Migration, accepted Villegas’ request, who announced that on repatriation planes, “a Venezuelan book should be placed on each seat.”
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Bandos and Parrandas of the Holy Innocents present -
The arepa was one of the protagonists
Party for Yrady
The central event of the last closing of Filven took place at noon in honor of Benito Yrady, this year’s honoree.
The writer expressed his joy not only because his books were presented during the fair, but also because of the recognition that, as a defender of property rights, he has had during his 55 years of professional career.
Yrady commented that more than a tribute to him, “it was a tribute to Venezuela. What I call the deep country. It fills me with joy that my four books have been presented, but throughout the year there will be others. As I carry the map of Venezuela in my head, I will write others.”
Prior to the conversation Benito Yrady and living heritage, the also president of the Center for Cultural Diversity said that activities like Filven serve “to meet again.
With this recognition, my commitment to defending our heritage is increasing. These 55 years have given me the opportunity to take it to the United Nations and make it more and more visible. “As I know that this year we will have a good examination of the casabe file, which we work together with Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Honduras.”
Until now, there are nine intangible heritages that UNESCO has declared for the country. And that is what the conversation was about, in which he was accompanied by the anthropologist Ocarina Castillo and the journalist Karen Méndez.
In his speech, Castillo highlighted that he was surprised by Yrady’s “his ability to communicate with his verb. The work he has done at the head of the Diversity Center fills us with pride and satisfaction. Technical and academic records are not enough, but it is our responsibility to feel co-responsible for our heritage. “It has to be in our education and in our way of relating to Venezuela.”
Méndez, for his part, celebrated that they paid him “his tribute in life, because one of his most important contributions is that he promotes that culture is not to divide or to unite. “It has no borders.”
As a complement, there was the participation of artists such as Marielena, Francisco Pacheco. Elena Gil, the Dancing Devils of Corpus Cristi and a colorful tribute from the Bandos y Parrandas de los Santos Inocentes de Caucagua.
Also the playwright Armando Carías and his group Comunicalle were present to pay tribute to the arepa, whose file before UNESCO is one of the most anticipated examinations for the country.
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2024-07-30 06:33:58
