International Centre 2008 - Bringing together literature and politics

Official opening of the International Centre by Max Maldacker, head of Multilateral Cultural and Media Relations at the Federal Foreign Office.

Tariq Ramadan listens closely.

Tariq Ramadan and Leonardo Padura were well-known faces already seen on our platform even before the official opening. The topic "Islam in Europe – European Islam" was discussed by Tariq Ramadan, the internationally known proponent of a European Islam, with the president of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Albert Schmid, and in the chair, the presenter Kamran Safiarian. Cuban crime writer Leonardo Padura was invited by the Instituto Cervantes to debate "Latin America's future" together with other writers.

Uzodinma Iweala during his reading in the International Centre.

Authors taking part in this year's midday "Literary Encounters" came from China, Syria, Nigeria, Russia and Cuba. The big attractions here were the Russian crime writer Polina Dashkova and the young Uzodinma Iweala, whose debut novel "Beasts of No Nation" caused a sensation.

Martina Gedeck reading from Fatou Diome's novel

This year again, Friday at the Book Fair was reserved for the African continent. For the"African triple pass" event, Fatou Diome from Senegal met up with the German actress Martina Gedeck who read from the audiobook version of "Der Bauch des Ozeans" ("The Belly of the Atlantic").

Afroton African Rhythm Allstars

At the Happy Hour afterwards, the public in the International Centre thoroughly enjoyed the music of the Afroton African Rhythm Allstars.

Badges of honour for Peter Rychlo and Peter Ripken

In 2008, Book Fair Saturday in the International Centre was given over for the first time to Eastern Europe. "Cultural heritage caught between conservation and marketing" was discussed at an event held by the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut. German and Ukrainian intellectuals, among them the well-known author Yuri Andruchovytch, raised the issue of "Europe's forgotten centre" and in the evening, the 600th birthday of the town of Chernovtsy was celebrated with a discussion and reception, during which the Chernovtsy literary expert Peter Rychlo and the programme director for the International Centre, Peter Ripken, exchanged badges of honour.

Hidden Voices – Rescued Voices. Photo exhibition in the International Centre

This year's photo exhibition was dedicated to authors suffering persecution. Hidden Voices – Rescued Voices showed emblematic cases of persecution and murder: people who have virtually become symbols for the freedom of speech, as well as actual cases of persecution and oppression. The centrepiece of the exhibition featured brief portraits of authors who have found refuge in various European cities.
Carefully integrated into the airy and much praised venue design, Hidden Voices – Rescued Voices spoke out on behalf of the right to freedom of speech and opinion, freedom of the word and of creativity.

Discussions on and alongside the platform in the International Centre.

As a "meeting place for literatures and politics", the International Centre not only invited visitors to listen to interesting discussions and talk to authors, book people, politicians and journalists. With its exhibition and plenty of places to sit down, the International Centre was also somewhere to take a breather away from the hustle and bustle of the Fair and to enjoy a coffee.