Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF) 2026, under the theme “A Conversation Between Civilisations”, positioned itself as a diplomatic platform where literature becomes a bridge across cultures, redefining the role of global publishing events.
“In an increasingly fragmented world, literature remains a powerful conduit for empathy and understanding. This theme is designed to move b

eyond transactional exchanges,” Joan Onyando, eKitabu’s Publishing Manager, gave remarks from her experience.

With publishers from over 100 countries attending, the book fair featured translation workshops, cultural forums, and author dialogues that were central to the theme, ensuring that diverse narratives are not only traded but genuinely connected.

“I’m excited to represent local authors’ work as something that belongs in global publishing conversations, not as ‘regional voices,’ but as stories with craft, depth, and ideas that can travel,” Joan stated. According to her, these encounters reshape how African literature is positioned and affirm its place on international shelves.

Children’s literature was another major focus at the Fair. Joan believes this will shape the future of Maua Books, an imprint of eKitabu focusing on Children’s books. Some key takeaways from the fair are investing in age-appropriate storytelling, long-term readership strategies, strengthening editorial standards, and building globally competitive titles. These will greatly contribute to shaping the development of children’s titles at Maua Books.

Looking ahead, eKitabu’s primary goal is to forge lasting international collaborations beyond the immediate commercial gains. Such Collaborations will be instrumental in elevating local literary voices onto the world stage and ensuring a sustainable path for cross-cultural book exchange.

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