Dua Lipa Opens Manifesto Library in Portugal Featuring Banned Books Worldwide

Dua Lipa inaugurated the Manifesto Library in Porto, Portugal, during the BABELL International Book Festival. The library houses nearly 100 books that have been banned, censored, or restricted globally, focusing on themes of power, control, voice, and memory. Among the collection are Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," works by Salman Rushdie, and Olga Tokarczuk. Many of these books were removed from schools or shelves due to their content related to race, sexuality, or LGBTQ+ issues, and some authors faced severe consequences, including death, for their writings.

Lipa described the library as a sanctuary for writers who dared to challenge power structures and for readers who refuse to be told what they can or cannot read. She emphasized that sometimes the most subversive act is simply reading a book and discussing it. This initiative aligns with her ongoing passion for literature and her desire to create a home for readers and writers worldwide.

The launch of the Manifesto Library comes amid a busy period for the 30-year-old singer, who recently married actor Callum Turner. Their wedding celebrations spanned nine days, beginning with a private civil ceremony in London in late May, followed by a lavish three-day event in Palermo, Sicily, estimated to have cost around $1.7 million.