Background and Relevance
The 36th International Book Fair of Anthropology and History (FILAH) concluded on a high note, with nearly 200,000 visitors attending the event. This year, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) was the honorary guest country, and Tabasco state shared the same distinction. The presence of Côte d’Ivoire as the first African country to be an honorary guest at the fair signifies recognition not only for their nation but also for the entire African continent.
Key Participants
- Robert Ly Djeroum: Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire in Mexico
- Aída Elva Castillo Santiago: Secretary of Culture, Tabasco
- José Luis Perea González: Technical Secretary, National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)
- Beatriz Quintanar: National Coordinator of Dissemination, INAH
- José Antonio Saborit: Director, Museo Nacional de Antropología (MNA)
Closing Ceremony and Speeches
The closing ceremony took place on the Museo Nacional de Antropología’s (MNA) explanada, accompanied by musical performances from both Tabasco’s best and Côte d’Ivoire’s traditional rhythms and dances. The band Son de Ceiba paid tribute to prominent Tabasco musicians.
The Secretary of Culture from Tabasco and the Ivorian ambassador expressed gratitude for their participation in the event. Ambassador Djeroum emphasized that Côte d’Ivoire’s cultural and human richness deserves to be shared with the world, especially Mexico.
Impact and Future Collaboration
Ambassador Djeroum highlighted that Côte d’Ivoire’s cultural expressions resonated with the Mexican audience, as well as in conferences, book presentations, and workshops. He concluded that the shared memory from this fair would foster a future of friendship, collaboration, and mutual recognition between the nations.
Fair Statistics
José Luis Perea González, the Technical Secretary of INAH, reported that during 11 days, the FILAH hosted over 400 activities, including editorial presentations, academic forums, tributes, workshops, and artistic performances. More than 800 participants from Mexico and other countries took part in these events.
Perea González also mentioned that nearly 180,000 attendees visited the event in person, while over 200,000 people watched the various activities through digital platforms from countries like the United States, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who was the honorary guest country at the 36th International Book Fair of Anthropology and History? A: Côte d’Ivoire
- Q: Why is Côte d’Ivoire’s presence significant at the FILAH? A: Côte d’Ivoire’s participation as the first African country to be an honorary guest signifies recognition for the entire African continent’s cultural and human richness.
- Q: How many people attended the FILAH, both in-person and digitally? A: Nearly 180,000 attended in-person, while over 200,000 watched digitally from various countries.
