With a message of hope and resilience, the 2026 Cali Book Fair opens its doors.
- American Anwar Abdel Melik is participating for the second time in the Cali International Book Fair, presenting publications that invite readers to learn about Islam, explore spirituality, and overcome stereotypes through knowledge.
- Check out the schedule for the Cali Book Fair held in the "Sultana of the Valley" for this Monday, October 26.
Santiago de Cali, October 25, 2026
With books that invite readers to explore Islam from various perspectives, American Anwar Abdel Melik has returned for a second time to CaliLee 2026 the Cali International Book Festival representing I.M.A.M. (the Imam Mahdi Association of Marjaeya). His participation aims to introduce the public to the Islamic faith and foster cross-cultural dialogue through reading.
“It is a very large organization, and one of its departments is dedicated to publishing books that inform people about Islam. We promote peace and cultural exchange,” the exhibitor explained.
Among the works he is presenting is “Islam, An Introduction”, a book that provides a general overview of the faith and seeks to challenge existing preconceptions. Also featured are “The Inner Struggle” which focuses on spirituality and personal growth and “Emissaries of God, The Life of Jesus”, which examines the life of Jesus from a Muslim perspective.
“One of these books offers a general idea of what Islam is and, in a way, breaks down stereotypes about the religion. Another deals with spirituality, spiritual growth, and how to draw closer to God. We also have a very popular book about the life of Jesus from a Muslim point of view,” he noted.
For this American Muslim, participating in a book fair is an opportunity to engage with people of different faiths, share knowledge, and discover alternative ways of interpreting the world. In this regard, he highlighted the openness of the public in Cali toward diverse cultural and religious perspectives.
“People here are very open and very kind. They want to understand; they want to learn about different cultures and religions. It is important to have an open mind,” he remarked. He also mentioned that the organization recently participated in the Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBO) and hopes to expand its presence to other literary venues. “So far, we’ve only been to Colombia, but we hope not to limit
“So far, we’ve only been to Colombia, but we hope not to limit ourselves to Cali and Bogotá. Perhaps we’ll go to Guadalajara, which has a major book fair,” he remarked.
Cali, a city that invites you to stay
Beyond his experience as an exhibitor, Melik highlighted the warm welcome he received in the city from the kindness of its inhabitants to its natural surroundings and its gastronomy.
“We love the people of Cali. I love the city. There are so many different trees; you can really feel nature, and the people are so kind,” he remarked.
Among the flavors he discovered during his visit, he mentioned “sancocho de gallina” (hen stew), “empanadas”, and “pandebono” experiences that also serve as a gateway to the local culture.
His invitation to visit CaliLee encapsulates the purpose of his participation: to foster encounters where reading allows for the recognition of differences, sparks curiosity, and broadens one’s understanding of other cultures.
“It is a space for cultural exchange, for the sharing of ideas and diverse ways of thinking a place for opening minds. The more knowledge you possess, the more you grow as a person. We say that ignorance is darkness and knowledge is light. So, we want more light,” he stated.
CaliLee continues this Monday with more than 50 free activities
The CaliLee 2026 program continues this Monday, October 26, with over 50 free activities for children, young people, and adults. The Dominican Republic, the guest country of honor, will have a prominent presence, featuring literary, audiovisual, and gastronomic offerings. The schedule also includes book presentations, workshops, meetings with authors, and discussions on contemporary topics.
Key activities include:
* 10:00 a.m. Workshop with Dipacho and Carlos Díaz Consuegra: a session centered on the book “Nos llaman invasores” ("They Call Us Invaders"), held at the Rigoberta Menchú Public Library.
* 2:00 p.m. Dominican Cinema: a screening of “Sueños Dorados” ("Golden Dreams"), a documentary about athlete Marileidy Paulino, directed by Mariano Pichardo, at the Guest Country Auditorium.
* 3:30 p.m. Literature and Artificial Intelligence: a conversation with Andro Loewenstein and Angélica Mayolo regarding digital technologies and transmedia storytelling, at the Celsia Auditorium.
* 4:00 p.m. Dominican Republic: a talk titled "Writing from the Caribbean," led by poet Frank Báez, at the Guest Country Auditorium.
* 5:30 p.m. Democracy and Critical Thinking: a presentation of the book “Pensar por uno mismo. Cuidar de la democracia de los fundamentalismos políticos” ("Thinking for Oneself. Protecting Democracy from Political Fundamentalism") by Juan Carlos Mantilla, at the Celsia Auditorium.
* 6:00 p.m. Flavors of the Caribbean: a mofongo tasting, presented by Josué Gómez, at the Guest Country Auditorium.
The program will also extend to the municipality of La Cumbre, featuring literary activities at educational institutions in the districts of Lomitas and Pavas.
CaliLee 2026 is organized by the Universidad del Valle, the Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali through the Secretariat of Culture and the Public Library Network and the Spiwak Foundation. The program is subject to change.
We are all Cali
Carlos Andrés Valverde
Communications Office
Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali