Rayco León: “Reading opens borders and fosters the critical thinking that transforms the world”

“Reading opens borders” is the motto of the 36th Fuerteventura Book Fair, inviting people to reflect on how books can open our eyes to other realities, foster empathy and develop critical thinking in an international climate marked by conflict and division.

That was the message from Fuerteventura Island Council Culture Councillor Rayco León and Island Library Centre head Elsa Quesada in an interview with La Voz de Fuerteventura, recorded in Plaza del Centenario, where schoolchildren began enjoying the scheduled activities first thing in the morning.

“A book is a tool that never goes out of fashion,” León said, championing reading as an opportunity to travel through the imagination and find yourself anywhere in the world.

León and Quesada both stressed the importance of overcoming the borders created by the way we think, and called for “this critical thinking that transforms the world and that we need so much at this time” to be encouraged.

A conversation between Ignacio Martínez Pisón and Àngels Barceló

That spirit will be at the heart of Thursday’s opening event, which replaces the traditional opening address with a conversation between journalist Àngels Barceló and writer Ignacio Martínez de Pisón, chaired by Nicolás Castellano, a journalist with Cadena SER and a leading figure in coverage of migration and human rights.

The event, scheduled for 7pm in the Josefina Plá Tent, will explore the meaning of “Reading opens borders” and the role of literature in broadening our view of the world.

The opening day will also feature the presentation of Años luz by journalist Jacobo García, winner of the Anagrama Prize for Chronicle, as well as Tenet, a contemporary circus performance by Eunoia Colektiva, and Raíces, a musical performance by Strad & Cía.

This year’s fair brings together leading literary figures including Lorenzo Silva, Ángeles González-Sinde, Jorge Volpi, Elena Medel, Patricio Pron, Jesús Carrasco, José Ignacio Carnero, Bibiana Candia, Marta San Miguel, Carlos Bardem and Margarita Yakovenko.

They will be joined by writers with links to the Canary Islands, including Lana Corujo, Cecilia Domínguez Luis, José Naranjo, Binta Claire and Óscar Liam, as well as Fuerteventura writers who will have the opportunity to present their latest publications.

The latter include José Manuel de la Torre Montenegro, Aroa Suárez, Marcos Hormiga, Violeta Chacón, Francisco Rodríguez López and Manoel Ferrás Rey.

León highlighted the importance of island writers sharing a platform with acclaimed authors and noted the Island Council’s year-round work to promote literary creation.

The programme will give the public the chance to discover the guests’ latest works and talk to them directly, one of the main attractions of an event that brings writers and readers together.

Lorca remembered at the fair, 90 years after his murder

Federico García Lorca will have a special place in this 36th edition, with two events exploring his legacy through theatre, film and dance, marking the 90th anniversary of his murder.

On Friday 16 October at 8.30pm, playwright and screenwriter Alberto Conejero will take part in the conversation De La Bola Negra a La Piedra Oscura, chaired by poet Javier Vicedo Alós.

Conejero, author of La piedra oscura and co-writer of La bola negra, will discuss two works that revisit the memory and world associated with Lorca. The film by Los Javis has been selected to represent Spain in the race for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.

The second event will follow that evening at 9.15pm: Padre Nuestro. Pasión y muerte de Federico García Lorca, a dance performance by Valencian companies Migro Danza and Yapadú Artística, staged in the square outside the Palace of Training and Conferences.

During the interview, León stressed the importance of keeping alive the memory of victims of repression and including issues that remain part of public debate in the cultural programme.

Lorenza Machín to receive the Alexis Ravelo Award

Another highlight will be the presentation of the Alexis Ravelo Award to Lorenza Machín, scheduled for Friday at 8pm.

León and Quesada recalled the close relationship the Gran Canarian writer had with the fair, and explained that the award was created to recognise people and groups who have helped the cultural event grow.

In Machín’s case, they highlighted her participation in previous editions, her contribution to literary creation and her involvement in activities related to women’s writing.

The award follows previous recognition of bookshops, reading groups and libraries, whose role León particularly championed.

Bookshops and libraries are essential to encouraging reading

The fair also offers an opportunity to champion bookshops in the face of the growth of digital platforms.

The councillor highlighted booksellers’ expertise: they know the latest releases, recommend books and help keep book-related cultural activity alive.

Three bookshops from Fuerteventura are taking part this year, alongside publishers who can use the fair to present their books and meet readers directly.

Elsa Quesada, meanwhile, emphasised the year-round work of the Island Library Centre, particularly its children’s room, where families can take part in activities designed to spark young children’s interest in reading.

She also noted that public libraries provide free access to books and encouraged people to use them, especially those who cannot afford to buy them.

Schoolchildren will once again play a prominent part over the coming days, with author events, storytelling sessions and performances bringing literature to pupils.

36 editions of the Fuerteventura Book Fair

Over its 36 editions, the Fuerteventura Book Fair has evolved from an event focused on selling and presenting books into a cultural gathering featuring theatre, music, dance, poetry and contemporary circus.

The programme includes El invencible verano de Liliana, starring Mexican actress Cecilia Suárez; Sinergia Street, a circus show by Nueveuno Circo; and Mahmud y no solo Mahmud by Punto Cero Company, which explores borders and migration.

There will also be live music, dance and family theatre, as well as the Tren de las Letras, which will travel to different parts of Puerto del Rosario to bring the fair to the public.

In the interview, León and Quesada highlighted the importance of this varied programme in attracting people who do not have a regular reading habit but may discover literature through other art forms.

The councillor also praised the fair’s standing among invited authors and the warm welcome offered by the organisers, which has helped establish it as a fixture on the cultural calendar.

They both urged the public to check the programme and enjoy the free events running until Sunday 18 October.

“Give it a try, take a look at the programme, see what appeals to you most and let yourself be carried along by the fair… feel the fair.”

The 36th Fuerteventura Book Fair will run until Sunday, with a programme also aimed at people who have yet to discover the event and championing free access to culture as a service open to everyone.