The IV Arrecife Book Fair kicked off on Thursday morning with a tribute to Félix Hormiga. "His humanity, generosity, and commitment to the identity and memory of the Port of Arrecife, were the focus of the speeches and took center stage at the inaugural event."
Before a House of Culture full of readers and friends of the recently deceased writer, the poet and teacher Jaime Quesada broke the ice of the tributes with the reading of his décimas from the Book Fair, stating: “What do you want me to say, I neither deny nor affirm; but to be sincere with you, I heard (reason obliges), that Antonio Félix Hormiga, from paradise, warns that the island is lucky with this strange visit: the BEAST that in May invites you with a book to entertain yourself”.
The Minister of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture of the Government of Canarias, Migdalia Machín, also remembered the figure of Félix Hormiga, from whom she highlighted his contribution to literature, theater and the cultural identity of Lanzarote. The minister pointed out that this edition of the Fiera del Libro is marked by the remembrance of one of the island's great cultural references; she also affirmed that culture and reading "cannot be understood as a luxury," and defended the need to bring books and cultural activity to all corners of Canarias, as a space of freedom, critical thinking and collective encounter.
Emotion soaked the words of the Minister of Culture of the Cabildo, Jesús Machín, when referring to the author of Rabo de ciclón, whom he said marked his life, and recalled that the Cabildo de Lanzarote will present him with the Timanfaya de Oro award posthumously, next June. He also defended the beast, "because life needs a bit of rebellion" and highlighted the legitimacy and respect earned by Isla Literaria and its book beast in the last four years and recommended "using words to reach consensus and not to tear down bridges".
The deputy mayor of the Arrecife City Council, Echedey Eugenio, invited residents and visitors to visit the fairgrounds between Thursday and Sunday and to enjoy all its activities. He thanked Martín Hormiga for the recognition, "who thus returns to inhabit the marina, to walk along the avenue, and to be present in the city he loved so much." He also mentioned the hundreds of schoolchildren who, since the morning, had filled the fairground space "because at this time, in this society, a book can become a lifeline."
The president of Isla Literaria, Tomás Pérez Esaú, thanked the collaborating institutions and companies for the sponsorship necessary to make the dream of the Book Fair a reality each year. In a special way, he thanked the media “who publish and disseminate everything we do: they are an essential engine of this Fair”. And he added: “This year we want to thank SER Lanzarote, Radio Lanzarote, El Espejo Canario, Radio Faycán and Radio Insular in a special way for broadcasting our spots for free. And of course, the journalists and cultural professionals who participate in the presentations and give life to all of this”.
Finally, he also remembered Félix Hormiga “who left us a short time ago, but whose work, generosity, and way of understanding culture remain very much alive. This edition is, to a large extent, a tribute to him”.
The event concluded with the reading of a text written and shared by his son Atchén Pounapal, who, visibly moved, recalled some family scenes, the stories his father told him as a child, and the importance of rescuing the memory of past times from oblivion, as a legacy of identity and knowledge that should not be lost.
Also attending the inaugural event were other family members of the writer, the counselor of the Publications Service, Ascensión Toledo, the councilor for Culture of Arrecife, Abigail González, and councilors responsible for the area in other town halls, such as Pepa González, from Tías, or Mar Boronat, from Teguise.
The IV Lanzarote Book Fair will take place until Sunday, May 10, in the Ramírez Cerdá park in Arrecife with visits from educational centers and specific activities for schoolchildren, sales stands from bookstores and publishers, new release presentations, cinema, and stage and musical activities.
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