Dua Lipa Launches 'Manifesto Library' Featuring Banned and Controversial Books
Global pop star Dua Lipa has launched a new initiative beyond music, opening the 'Manifesto Library' within the historic Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal. This library showcases books that have been banned, censored, or deemed controversial in various countries worldwide. The project is part of the international book festival Babel—City of Books and features a collection of approximately 100 titles. These books address themes of power abuse, censorship, discrimination, and challenge societal norms. Lipa stated that this initiative fulfills a long-held dream, aiming for her Service95 Book Club to be a sanctuary for readers and writers globally. The library honors courageous authors and readers who resist predefined reading lists. Lipa is a vocal advocate for reading, selecting a monthly book for her club and interviewing its author. She will also serve as a curator for the London Literature Festival from October 21 to November 1, 2026. The collection is organized around four core themes: power, control, voice, and memory. Notable works include Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale,' Reginald Dwayne Betts' 'Felon,' and selections by Salman Rushdie and Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk. Francesca Pinto, Brand Director at Livraria Lello, affirmed the bookstore's 120-year belief in books as powerful tools for human freedom, with the Manifesto Library embodying this principle.
This initiative by Dua Lipa, in partnership with Livraria Lello, highlights the enduring power of literature to challenge established norms and provoke critical thinking. By curating a collection of banned and controversial books, the Manifesto Library serves as a platform for exploring themes of censorship and freedom of expression. This effort aligns with broader societal trends examining the control of information and the importance of diverse narratives in an increasingly interconnected world. The library's focus on challenging power structures and societal conventions invites reflection on the role of art and literature in fostering democratic discourse and individual autonomy. As AI continues to shape information dissemination, such initiatives underscore the vital need for safeguarding intellectual freedom and encouraging critical engagement with diverse perspectives.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.