The Grammy-winning singer has partnered with Portugal’s iconic Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto to launch The Manifesto Library, a physical space dedicated entirely to works that have been challenged, restricted, or banned across different parts of the world.
Set to open on June 27, the library will feature a curated collection of 100 books that explore sensitive and often controversial themes including race, sexuality, and LGBTQIA+ identity. It will also highlight authors who have faced persecution—and in some cases death—because of their writings.
A Space for Ideas That Have Been Silenced
Located within Livraria Lello’s new cultural auditorium, The Manifesto Library is designed not just as a reading room but as a living intellectual space. It will encourage dialogue, reflection, and debate around works that have historically faced censorship.
According to Lipa, the project is deeply tied to her broader literary initiative, the Service95 Book Club.
“When I founded the Service95 Book Club, my ambition was for it to become a home for writers and readers everywhere,” she said. “Sometimes the most subversive thing you can do is read a book and then talk about it.”
Her statement underscores the project’s central idea: that reading itself can be an act of resistance when ideas are suppressed.
Celebrating Literature as Resistance
Beyond its curated collection, The Manifesto Library is positioned as a symbolic response to growing global conversations around censorship and intellectual freedom. By gathering books that have been restricted for political, cultural, or social reasons, the space aims to preserve and amplify voices that have been silenced.
The initiative reflects Lipa’s ongoing commitment to literature as a tool for awareness and engagement, positioning reading not only as entertainment but also as a form of civic and cultural participation.
For the singer, the project represents more than a library—it is a statement about the enduring power of storytelling to challenge dominant narratives and inspire critical thought.
Culture, Conversation, and Controversy in One Space
By situating The Manifesto Library inside one of Europe’s most famous bookstores, the project blends heritage with modern cultural activism. Visitors are expected to move through an experience that encourages both individual reading and collective discussion.
At its core, the initiative reinforces a simple but powerful message: books that are banned or challenged often carry some of the most important ideas of their time.
With this launch, Dua Lipa steps further into the cultural space, using literature as a bridge between art, activism, and public conversation.