The fifth edition of the International Francophone Book Meeting in Kigali brought together writers, thinkers, and cultural actors from across Africa, Europe from March from 25-28. What started 6 years ago as a simple café litéraire, an intimate conversation between an author and readers, has now evolved into a major platform. According to Lee Fou Messica, Director at Institut Français, the transformation came with the opening of the Francophone Cultural Centre inaugurated in May 2021 by French President Emmanuel Macron. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: What you missed at Francophonie party in Kigali “We decided to make it bigger, to invite authors from Rwanda, Africa, Europe and Canada to exchange ideas, launch and re-edit books, and create dialogue across cultures,” Messica explained. Held during the month of Francophonie, the event reflected both celebration and concern particularly around readership. “There is a lack of readers today, especially among the youth who are more connected to screens than books,” Messica noted, pointing to the growing influence of social media on reading habits. While the event featured a diverse lineup of international authors, it was the Rwandan authors who delivered some of the most powerful and locally grounded narratives. ALSO READ: Nkulikiyinka in Mauritius to seek support for Mushikiwabo's OIF Writing as healing and awareness Among them, Dr Christian Ntizimira stood out with the launch of his book Concept de Safari, which explores an African framework for palliative care. A palliative care doctor and Executive Director of the African Center for Research on End-of-Life, Ntizimira uses literature as a tool to bridge medicine, culture, and human experience. “My book explores socio-cultural solutions to better integrate palliative care in Rwanda and respond to the needs of patients and families,” Ntizimira said. Through allegory and storytelling, he translates complex experiences of suffering into narratives that families can understand and relate to. His work also reflects Rwanda post-genocide reality, where memory, trauma, and healing remain deeply intertwined. “Literature plays a very important role in raising awareness and helping people understand both the specific and general aspects of these issues,” he added, calling for more encouragement for both reading and writing. Rethinking African realities Ntizimira also challenged dominant global perspectives on healthcare in Africa, particularly in palliative care. “We should not judge African palliative care using Western indicators. It creates a form of social injustice,” he argued. He emphasized that beyond medical resources, African systems often rely on family presence, community support, and spiritual care, elements that are rarely captured in conventional metrics. “In Rwanda, many patients are surrounded by their families at home. That is another form of care,” he said. Literature as memory and reconstruction For Rwandan author Safi Chantal Buseruka, literature serves as a mirror of the country's transformation. She describes her work of 10 books as a reflection of Rwanda’s transformation. “I describe the rebirth of Rwandan society in my books. After everything the country has been through, it is a renaissance. It is a society rediscovering itself, learning from its past and trying to correct what happened, while offering the world a new vision, a new image of Rwanda. For example, in her book Dans les entrailles des marécages (loosely translated as In the depths of the swamp) Biseruka tells the story of a woman who lost her entire family. Her story deeply moved me. I felt a responsibility to contribute to it, to give it a voice, she said. “Writing is not something you plan. It’s a calling. You encounter a story that moves you so deeply that you cannot sleep until you write it,” she explained. She believes literature creates awareness, knowledge, and human connection. “Literature creates links between people. It builds understanding and strengthens society.” Despite the richness of these voices, Ntizimira and Biseruka highlighted a shared concern: the lack of support for African literature. “African literature suffers from a lack of support compared to Western literature,” Buseruka noted, emphasizing that books can also contribute to national economies and cultural identity. Yet, there is cautious optimism. While social media continues to dominate young people’s attention, she believes a shift is beginning. “I am happy to see that young people are starting to understand that they cannot spend all their time just looking at images,” she said. Other authors who attended the event include Virginie Karagirwa (French Rwandan), Kayije Kagame (Swiss-Rwanda), and Isabelle Kassi Fofana (from Côte d’Ivoire). Beyond book launches and discussions, the International Francophone Book Meeting has become a space where language, identity, and ideas intersect. For many participants, Francophone literature is not just about language, it is about belonging. “It gives us an identity. Even if we know writers like Victor Hugo or Léopold Sédar Senghor, we also feel connected to African voices,” Buseruka reflected.
