Reflections: Bringing African Voices to Helsinki Book Fair 2025

by Sarah Laaru, chairperson of Finnish-African Society

Authors Rexella x Rumyasa

Authors Rexella & Rumyasa interacting with attendees

“If you climb a good tree, you get a push.” 

— Akan proverb, Ghana

When your cause is worthy, support arrives. For the Finnish-African Society and its FALA initiative, this ancient wisdom became a lived experience at the Helsinki Book Fair 2025.

Representation, inclusion, diversity—these words appear often in literary conversations. Turning them into reality requires more than intention; it requires dedicated people working together. Our presence at the Helsinki Book Fair embodies this commitment. 

For three years now, FAS has created space for African voices on a prominent Nordic stage—not simply as attendees, but as active participants shaping the conversation. It’s a celebratory act for our authors, community, and partnerships, while introducing our beautiful, often misunderstood continent through literature. It is also a show of solidarity for all marginalised voices seeking their place in the literary world.

FROM VISION TO REALITY

Taking part in the Helsinki Book Fair has always been a strategic gateway to Nordic literary communities. Our first appearance in October 2023 featured a panel discussion curated with Rosebud Books, and the impact was immediate. That debut became possible through an inspiring conversation with Ville Blåfield, Program Director of the Helsinki Book Fair, who emphasised the importance of a diverse and inclusive writing community, especially showcasing African and Afro-Nordic writers. We recognised the opportunity: here was a good tree worth climbing. Three years later, we’re still climbing.

Long before we set up our stand at the Helsinki Book Fair, months of meticulous work unfold behind the scenes. The FAS team plans and carries out various aspects, from organising registration with the event organisers to choosing books, discussion topics, children’s activities, and marketing strategies. Every decision is intentional; every detail is discussed. Shared documents track progress. Planning calls align visions. Email exchanges hammer out logistics. It’s intensive work, made sustainable by one saving grace: Finnish summers. Those precious months help the team breathe before diving into the beautiful chaos of preparation.

Laura Hytti, our team lead, ensures every moving part clicks into place. In the days before the event, final coordination takes place, confirming each author’s books, double-checking schedules, and rallying the community. The communications work becomes collective as team members and the community spread the word and volunteer their time. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to holding this space at the fair. By the opening day, the atmosphere is vibrant and electric.

HIGHLIGHTS AND MOMENTS

Young Readers Exploring African Literature

This year’s opening day brought something special: participation in “Suunnista kirjaan” (book orientation) for 5th and 6th graders. This was an excellent opportunity for us to share knowledge about Africa and encourage young readers to explore more African literary works. 

The presence of our authors at the bookstand made the book orientation experience special. They shared more about their books, themselves, and their home countries. We commend Äidinkielen opettajain liitto ry (ÄOL), Suomen tietokirjailijat ry and Tietokirjallisuuden edistämiskeskus for this great initiative. 

Through discussions and exchange of good-natured banter about Africa, we correct misinformation while creating memorable experiences — it’s a labour of love. Our observation reveals that this is an empowering approach to building trust between writers and readers.

Lydia and the school kids

Lydia interacting with the school kids

Many Paths, Many Victories

Connections looked different for each person who stepped up to our book stand. For volunteers, it showed up in conversations and the sense of belonging that came from engaging with readers, promoting African literature, and sharing their own stories. 

For readers, it was discovering books that spoke to their lived experiences or made them feel seen. The joy on the children’s faces as they spotted characters who looked like them on book covers was unmistakable.

Authors often measured success in books sold — tangible proof of interest and impact. For others, the real victory was meeting fellow African authors and strengthening the community that makes representation possible in the first place.

In the end, the beauty was in the diversity of these moments — a reminder that this space held room for many kinds of achievement.

In Their Own Words — Author Voices

Beyond the metrics and feedback, the most compelling reflections came in the authors’ own words. Here’s what a few authors shared about their most meaningful Helsinki Book Fair experiences:

“My target audience is children and young adults. I was happy to see that the 5th and 6th graders were easily picking my books. It’s a great feedback to me that the covers were very attractive.”  – Nana Tweneboa-Kodua, author of Buronya Ɛwɔ Dɔmeabra 

“Going to the Book Fair was an experience I’ll never forget. Getting the chance to promote my book and share the message behind it made me feel accomplished. Seeing the number of people truly interested in my book and genuinely excited and curious about it made me really happy. It taught me the importance of believing in myself and expressing my voice.”  – Rexella Eta, author of Twin Switch Disaster

“I was deeply touched by readers who bought my books not only for themselves but as gifts for their loved ones. In those precious exchanges, I realised writers also gain something — the privilege of seeing how our words connect with readers. Face-to-face interaction is unmatched!”  – Khaya Ronkainen, author of The Sheltering

“It was very engaging, especially talking to school children who knew nothing about my background and history. Having a chance to tell them about me as an author was monumental and their responses were genuine because they still don’t have the diplomatic veils we wear as adults.”  – Evans Andrew, author of Before the Devil Wakes Up

Personal Highlight 

The question we asked most often this year — “Do you read or know of any African authors? Would you be interested in discovering new ones?” — echoed across our stand with surprising power.

What we learned was eye-opening. It reminded us just how vital FAS’s presence at the fair truly is in reshaping the narratives around Africa and its literature. People were curious, open, and eager to explore — sometimes for the first time.

This year, we were intentional about giving that curiosity a direct response. Our authors met readers face-to-face through the Meet the Author sessions, bringing their voices, stories, and journeys to the forefront. One could call it “agency through voices as a soft power”, slowly but surely shifting perceptions. 

Group photo at Oodi

Group photo of authors and organizers at Oodi

What Surprised Us

Our visibility and the promotion of literature that portrays our stories and realities are critical. They help shape the Nordic view of the African continent and its voices, and are fundamental in teaching young readers empathy, kindness, and acceptance. It also serves as a means for African authors from around the globe to share their stories with readers in the Nordic region.

This year, we had the pleasure of teaming up with Literary Cleveland to present the works of Quartez Harris. We also showcased works of African authors: Luvvie Ajayi, Abolore Sobayo, Rumaysa Sobayo, Kwame Aidoo and Emily Joof based in the USA, UK, Ghana/Denmark and Sweden/Gambia respectively. We learned from the experience that help is always nearby, and collaboration is everywhere.

The book fair feels like home for us; it’s becoming a familiar space for people who share a love of literature, art, culture, and more to connect.

CHALLENGES AND LEARNING

Each year, the Helsinki Book Fair offers a learning opportunity. We listen closely — to feedback, comments and even complaints — and we observe the environment to understand how we can shape more valuable experiences.

This year highlighted several areas where we can grow and strengthen future editions of our presence at the fair, and we remain open to all forms of feedback — both encouragement and critique — because they help us improve.  

Communication and alignment: Events of this scale naturally involve many moving parts and small mismatches along the way. Our panel discussion ultimately went well, but it reminded us that we need stronger alignment not only with event organisers but also within our own networks. In the future, we aim to promote our panel sessions more actively to audiences who would most benefit from them. 

Space for a growing number of authors: With more African authors joining us each year, the shared stand is becoming too small for smooth movement, displays, and interaction. Planning for more space will better support authors and enhance the visitor experience.

Community-building opportunities beyond the fair: Some authors expressed interest in a post-event or evening gathering for African writers and readers — a chance to deepen connections during the long weekend. While this was part of the initial plan, it didn’t materialise, underscoring the value of dedicated support for side events.

Resource limitations (financial and human): Many of the ideas and improvements we envision — including managing book deliveries for exhibiting authors, covering volunteer travel expenses, expanding our shared book stand, and offering more programs, among others — require additional funding and volunteer capacity. Securing these resources can allow FAS to deliver an even richer experience for future events.

Sarah and Laura looking exhausted

Sarah and Laura at the FAS stand

As this chapter closes on the Helsinki Book Fair 2025, we face an exciting challenge: how do we make each subsequent year more innovative while honouring what made this one successful? How can we bring new ideas to the book fair? What’s the best approach to ensure inclusivity, sustainability, and growth? 

For us at the Finnish-African Society, we will continue to work with our partners, both near and far, our authors, teams, and organisers, to create not only a welcoming space but a space that will continue the efforts of “climbing this good tree”. Because we have found a wonderful tree, the Helsinki Book Fair platform. 

Up this “good tree” — a space where all voices are accepted, celebrated and supported — we want to encourage and push our African, Black and Afro-Nordic voices and creatives. 

Without a doubt, African literature deserves to be celebrated, and it’s overdue for a prominent, unreserved presence in Nordic literature.