Independent voices challenge systemic barriers in a growing but fragile market.
An inaugural book fair staged by the Collective of New Moroccan Publishing (CNEM) in Casablanca in early December illuminated both the vitality and vulnerability of Morocco’s literary sector.
For publishing professionals, the event – connecting debut authors with independent houses – offers a snapshot of an industry at a critical juncture.
Market Structure: Small Scale, Concentrated Power
Morocco’s 2023-24 publishing output reached 3,725 titles, a 6.98% annual increase, according to the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco’s inaugural sector report.
Yet this growth masks deep structural fragility, per Al-Monitor. Approx. 300 publishing houses operate nationwide, but most release only one or two titles annually with modest print runs of 2,000–3,000 copies, and lack professional distribution networks.
The market remains geographically concentrated in Casablanca and Rabat, heavily dependent on public funding, and digitally underdeveloped – fewer than 10% of titles are available online.
The Distribution Bottleneck
Self-publishing accounts for 643 titles (20% of output), exposing a vacuum in traditional acquisition models. New authors must secure BNRM authorisation, then manage production, distribution, and marketing independently – a process that typically costs more than potential earnings.
As first-time author Ahmed El Falah notes, few Moroccan houses accept unsolicited manuscripts, prioritising established names for economic security.
Kenza Sefrioui of En Toutes Lettres describes the ecosystem as “poorly structured,” citing pressure from dominant distributors, regulatory ambiguity, and endemic piracy.
Emerging Voices, Persistent Gaps
Independents like La Croisée des Chemins, Le Fennec, and En Toutes Lettres serve as crucial curators, with some achieving international presence through translation and fair participation.
However, Sefrioui warns that event-based policy cannot substitute systemic reform: “We cannot build a healthy ecosystem through event-based policies alone. We need a complete overhaul of our education system, strengthened research, and genuine respect for freedom of expression.”
The View From The Beach
For international publishers, Morocco represents an underexploited source of Francophone and Arabic literature. The challenge lies in distribution infrastructure and market access. Until regulatory frameworks strengthen and digital adoption accelerates, the country’s literary renaissance will remain confined to localised initiatives rather than achieving scalable, sustainable growth. And that’s a real shame.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
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