Almost 60 Angolan authors and about a hundred of artists and intellectuals of the same nationality will star Cuba 2013 International Book Fair to be opened next February 14.

The advisor of the Angolan Minister of Culture, Jorge Gumbe, stated in a press conference that the literary appointment will help to present the culture of his country, not only in Cuba, but also in Latin America and the rest of the world.

Gumbe—who leads a delegation integrated by executives of the National Institute of Cultural Industries in that African nation—testified the interest of his government in showing the traditions but also the “new Angola” that is being built today, after so many years of war.

After three days of exchanges with authorities of the Cuban Book institute (ICL, after its initials in Spanish)—the organizers of the editorial event—he assured that there is a “guarantee that the Fair will be a success”.

Some reprints and also new titles—among them poetry and children stories anthologies, traditional and contemporary—will be available to the Cuban public, explained Gumbe, who also pointed out the presence in Cuba of other Angolan cultural expressions.

This way, the Caribbean island will be the stage for traditional and contemporary dance companies and about seven concerts of Angolan groups and soloists, who will share the stage with Cuban artists.

A theater monologue and exhibitions of plastic artists from both countries are also part of the preliminary program of the fair.

Eduardo Roca (Choco), Nelson Dominguez, Ernesto Garcia and Rafael Paneca are among the Cuban artist that will take part in these exhibitions due to their link with Angola, where they were doing artistic teaching some decades ago.

According to executives of the OCL, the Fair will present works by writers like Artur Carlos Maurício Pestana dos Santos (Pepetela), João Melo, António Fonseca, Ana Paula Tavares, Oscar Ribas, Arnaldo Santos, Buenaventura Cardoso, Costa Andrade and, of course, Agostinho Neto.

Some of those authors—alive and still valid in Angolan literature—have confirmed their presence in Havana to take part in the 22nd edition of the International Book Fair Cuba 2013.

Translation: Adriana Pérez (Cubarte)