Dua Lipa Launches Manifesto Library to Combat Book Censorship in Portugal

British-Albanian pop star Dua Lipa inaugurated the Manifesto Library on Saturday, marking the first physical extension of her digital book club, Service95. The library was unveiled at the BABELL International Book Festival in Porto, Portugal, and will be permanently housed at the Livraria Lello bookstore in the city. The collection features around 100 books centered on themes of power, control, voice, and memory, including works that have faced censorship or bans worldwide due to their treatment of race, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ topics. Notable titles include Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," alongside works by Salman Rushdie, Olga Tokarczuk, and Reginald Dwayne Betts.

Dua Lipa, who launched Service95 in 2021, emphasized that the project aims to create a safe space for writers and readers while promoting freedom of reading. Francisca Pedro Pinto, brand manager of Livraria Lello, highlighted the initiative's foundation on the belief that books are tools for freedom and shaping society's future. Dua Lipa, 30, is a three-time Grammy winner who rose to fame in 2017 with her self-titled debut album, featuring hits like "IDGAF" and "New Rules." She recently married British actor and model Callum Turner after two years together.

The launch of the Manifesto Library aligns with ongoing global conversations about censorship and the importance of literary freedom, reinforcing Lipa's commitment to cultural activism beyond her music career.