Periplo Festival Explores Identity and Global Narratives at Midpoint in Puerto de la Cruz

The Periplo International Travel and Adventure Literature Festival in Puerto de la Cruz reaches its midpoint this Thursday, cementing its reputation as a vital space for exploring identity and geography. Now in its fourteenth year, the festival runs until Sunday and goes beyond traditional travel writing to examine complex themes, including African literature, Amazonian anthropology, and the cultural heritage of the Arab world.

Today’s program focuses on the themes of memory and returning home. At the Lago Martiánez Tent, journalist José Naranjo will interview writer Antoinette Tidjani Alou about her book, Mano, el hijo de oro. Their conversation will explore the story’s dual setting of Niamey and Bordeaux, examining the emotional impact of displacement and the effort to rebuild personal connections. Later, Josep M. Palau Riberaygua will join Pilar Rubio Remiro to discuss Mi madre se convirtió en pájaro. This work offers a critical look at an expedition into the Peruvian Amazon, highlighting the importance of ecosystem preservation and the challenges facing indigenous communities today.

The day concludes with physician and historian Salah Jamal, who will discuss Arab culture through the lens of anthropology and food. His book, Aroma árabe, uses culinary traditions as a way to better understand the history and social fabric of his region.

Alongside these talks, the festival continues to encourage public involvement. The "Relatos a Viva Voz" (Stories Aloud) sessions at the Sotavento Tent invite attendees to share short fiction tied to the 4th Periplo Literary Contest. With this year’s theme, "The humanity that resists," the festival reinforces Puerto de la Cruz’s role as a cultural hub where literature serves as a powerful tool for social connection and intellectual engagement.