“A book is read alone. A story is shared.”
FATIKEN started as an online bookstore: a catalog, a cart, a delivery. But a book that arrives at your door with no one to talk to about it stays only half read.
FATIKEN Community is the other half. It's the space — physical, recurring, genuine — where readers who ordered the same novel finally meet, where the author behind the cover answers questions in person, where a discussion about a chapter can last longer than the book itself.
We don't ask that you've read everything. We ask that you want to talk about it.
The rhythm
Four ways to come together
No fixed calendar, no obligation — four recurring gatherings, each with its own pace, keeping the community alive all year round.
- 01
The reading circle
Every two monthsA book of the month, chosen together. We meet to discuss it out loud — what we loved, what we hated, what we would have written differently.
- 02
The author meetup
Every month or twoAuthors published on FATIKEN come to present their work, answer questions, and listen to feedback from those who've read them. No podium, just a conversation.
- 03
The after-books
Several times a yearA more informal moment — a coffee shop, a campus bench, a terrace — for those who simply want to spend time together, book or no book.
- 04
The FATIKEN conference
Once or twice a yearA larger gathering open to all members: African literature, writing, publishing — guests, debates, and a chance to bring the whole community together in one place.
The community in pictures
What it actually looks like
On the grass, on a bench, in a bookstore — our members meet wherever there's room for an open book and a conversation.
Who makes up the community
Three audiences, one table
The readers
Those who order, who recommend, who debate an ending for weeks. They come looking for other people who've read the same thing they have.
The authors
Those whose books are sold on FATIKEN. They come to present their work, but also to listen — face-to-face feedback from a reader is worth more than ten online reviews.
The curious
Those who haven't bought a book from us yet, but love reading, writing, or simply spending time with people who love that too.
What people are saying
Readers who became regulars
“I came to buy a book. I stay for the monthly meetups. Today, half the people I regularly see, I met through FATIKEN Community.”
Aïssatou D. — member since 2025“As an author, presenting my book to readers who've actually read it, in person, changes everything. We're no longer talking about the book — we're talking about what it stirred up in them.”
Mamadou B. — author published on FATIKEN