At the opening of the 18th edition of the 72h du Livre festival, the Guinean capital once again proved that literature is much more than a passion: it is a culture, a heritage, and a symbol of Conakry.
Designated World Book Capital by UNESCO in 2017, and subsequently included in the Creative Cities Network for Literature in 2025, Conakry confirms its status as a cultural beacon in West Africa. This year, the festival even expanded to Forecariah, marking the first time this unmissable event has been held outside of major cities.
For the past four years, the Miss Literature competition has established itself as one of the festival's highlights. Far removed from the clichés of beauty pageants, this competition showcases young women whose talent and passion for literature transcend physical criteria
.
Fatima Koné, the competition's organizer in Guinea, emphasizes this philosophy: it's not a physical beauty contest. The contestants all have atypical physiques, of all shapes and colors, because we judge intellect, not what we see.
Aïssatou Kamano, a dental student and 2026 winner, shares her enthusiasm: "I love literature, I adore reading. When I heard about Miss Literature, I thought: why not? Why not try my luck and experience this adventure with other literature lovers?"
The runners-up, Kadidjatou Barry (a communications student) and Mariama Camara (a student in 12th grade), also exemplify this shared passion. For Kadidjatou, literature is much more than a hobby: " Literature has been a part of my life since childhood. I grew up surrounded by books, in French, Arabic, Pulaar… In my family, we only talk about literature, whether written or oral. It's the driving force behind my development. It's who I am, to put it simply."
Mariama, the youngest contestant, considers this experience an enriching adventure: "It was an incredible adventure for me. I learned so much, I met people who taught me so much. I only have positive things to say about it. I encourage other young people like me to take an interest in this kind of competition."
A captivated audience and a strengthened cultural vocation
The enthusiasm in the audience was palpable. Thérèse Akapo , a former participant, emphasized the importance of valuing the intellectual potential of young women: many focus on appearance, on physical attributes… But it is also essential to highlight all the potential, talent, and above all, passion that girls possess.
This 18th edition, which continues until April 28 in Forecariah, confirms that the 72h du Livre festival is much more than a simple literary event: it is a celebration of diversity, intelligence, and the love of words, which unites all generations in Guinea.
