People Should Care About The Rachid Karami Fair In Tripoli, Here’s Why

Earlier this week, I attended an event that took place at the Rachid Karami Int’l Fair (RKIF) in Tripoli – and it upset me more than anything.

So, anime lovers probably know of and/or attended the event organized by Lebanon’s anime community, Kaliko Friends. After a successful event at Galaxy Mall in December, they decided that they needed to go bigger to accommodate for the large crowds that were swarming their events. That’s why they decided to host the event at the iconic RKIF in Tripoli.

For those who don’t know what the RKIF looks like, here’s a photo that barely does it any justice:

^{Image retrieved from UNESCO.}

This fair is huge. It took us a while to get from the parking to where the event was being held, from walking distance to the time we took admiring how beautiful this venue was.

Let’s talk about the history of the Rachid Karami Int’l Fair in Tripoli

For some background information, the RKIF project started back in the 60s by Brazilian modernist Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Niemeyer is one of the most prominent architects of his time, transforming decades of classicism in Latin American architecture to give it more modern flavor. Fouad Chehab, who was president back in the 50s, commissioned the Brazilian architect to create this magnificent space that links the old part of the city to the port. The purpose behind this entire project was to bring attention to Tripoli as an economic and culture hub, just like the capital city of Beirut.

^{Image retrieved from UNESCO.}

The RKIF had huge potential, a colossal project that could have transformed Tripoli. Though they started building it in the mid-60s, the project was never complete after the Civil War started in 1975, and the fair became a military base until 1990. Attempts to create a proper reconstruction and restoration plan failed over the years, and again in 2022 following the economic hardships the country was facing.

Back in January of 2023, the 70-hectre site was declared as endangered world heritage by UNESCO due to its alarming state.

Why should people care about the Rachid Karami Int’l Fair?

Well, the obvious answer would be: wouldn’t it be nice to have something like this in Lebanon? Designed by one of the most prominent architects in the world, too. These heritage sites serve as repositories of cultural and historical significance, representing the collective identity and memory of not only the people of Tripoli but Lebanon as a whole.

It also acts as a large space for locals to visit with their family and friends to spend a refreshing day out. For those who didn’t attend the Kaliko Friends event, we got the chance to meet so many people, visit many stands selling merch (some by local artists), and dance along to our favorite songs blasting through the speakers. Even the Culture Minister stopped by to see what all the fuss was about.

The organizers asked event goers to avoid walking on certain structures due to fears of them collapsing. That was what really shook me. Imagine having this amazing of a venue, only for it to be left in such a state?

^{Image retrieved from archdaily.}

I don’t know about you, but these kinds of events remind me why I love Lebanon. Seeing people having a good time, engaging, making friends, and working to make others happy through such events makes the experience all the better.

Yes, Lebanon has a lot of problems to address. The list of problems truly do not end, and some may have more priority than others – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to work on smaller scale changes to make living here a little more bearable/enjoyable. We’re aware that the government should be working on these matters, but let’s face it. They’re not going to do anything.

If you’re still not convinced, just go visit the RKIF in Tripoli and come back to this article. You’ll understand.