2018 Mogadishu Book Fair: Writers, publishers, book lovers take part in literary festival

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Every year, the Mogadishu Book Fair brings together publishers, writers and literature lovers. CGTN's Abdulaziz Billow caught up with one author who's returned to Somalia after three decades to inspire a new generation of wordsmiths.

Abdilatif Ega is among dozens of authors taking part in the 2018 Mogadishu Bookfair.

His latest book titled "Guban" Somali for "burnt" is among those being displayed during the three-day event - that has attracted hundreds of young people from across the country.

The book breathes life into Somalia's vast and intricate cultural landscape through the journeys of its characters and seeks to change the negative perception portrayed by western media.

It's the third time Ega - is attending the biggest literary event in the horn of African nation since returning back from Harlem, New York - where he had been living for the past three decades -leaving behind his job as a fellow at the Columbia University in New York City.

ABDILATIF EGA AUTHOR "I came back in 2016 - for the book fair and I decided I was going to stay and do research for a book on the city itself - there are many people who write about Somalia and are not in Somalia. Who come for parachuting and leave - no one has written about the city with its life today - it's either nostalgic or mayhem."

Ega is now working on his next book - about his beloved city of Mogadishu - that continues to serve as a symbol of resilience for a nation seeking to reestablish itself after years of conflict.

ABDULAZIZ BILLOW MOGADISHU, SOMALIA "Now in its fourth year - the Mogadishu Fair has attracted hundreds of readers and authors. Some from as far as Europe with the hope of changing the global perception that many have of this city - that's slowly rebuilding itself after years of conflicts."

ABDILATIF EGA AUTHOR "I just want most of the Africans the rest of the world and Americans to understand that Somalia is not only comprised of that but it has a lot more that's going on and if they read the book they will understand and it will give it a more lucid enlightenment."

Ega now hopes to inspire the next group of authors - through training and script writing so as to enhance the culture of reading in a society whose young population is over seventy percent.

ABDILATIF EGA AUTHOR "This is a city where more than two million people live - it has its issues. And if I don't come back who else will. I also want to help out in whatever intellectual capacity as a teaching fellow whether it's academic or within the world of fiction and non-fiction."

The successful hosting of book events such as this has pioneered young people to invest in building libraries - allowing writers and readers to have a perfect environment for studying. Abdulaziz Billow, CGTN, Mogadishu, Somalia.