More than a hundred poets, critics, and media figures from Arab countries will participate in the seven-day long activities of the nineteenth edition of the Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival beginning next Monday, the ninth of this month, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Sharjah Department of Culture Chairman Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais said, “The participation with this momentum from different Arab nations and diverse generations in the nineteenth edition confirms His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah’s commitment and care for Arabic poetry.”
A poem from each issue of Al Qawafi magazine will be selected to receive the “Qawafi Award” in 2022, as declared by Al Owais and mandated by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah.
At the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, the festival will have seven poetry evenings and a morning poetry session, as the Chairman of the Department of Culture put it. In addition to the signings and the symposium, this session will also showcase six books published by the Sharjah Department of Culture.
The poetry evening at the Khorfakkan Literary Council will relocate to Khorfakkan with the topic “Poetry Between Expression and Influence.” A daily newsletter named “Arabs Poetry Canon ” will be released to provide in-depth and varied media coverage of the festival. In addition to honouring the winners of the Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry Criticism from the previous edition, the current eidtion also recognises the two festival characters who were granted the Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry in the 11th edition, 2023.
On day two of the festival, poets who contributed to Al Qawafi Magazine’s 12 issues in 2022 will recite their work as part of the ceremony for the 2022 Al Qawafi Award at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre.
After the book signing of the Emirati personality honoured at the festival, the poet Sheikha Al Mutairi, on the second day, the programmes of the second day will continue with a poetry evening presented at the Palace of Culture in Sharjah.
On Wednesday morning, in the Sharjah House of Poetry, the festival’s intellectual symposium, titled “Poetry between Expression and Influence,” will take place.
Day three will continue with a poetry evening at the Palace of Culture, featuring prominent poets from a variety of Arab nations and featuring the signing of the collection of Saudi poet Hassan Al Zahrani, the honoured Arab personality of the festival.
In the Palace of Culture during the next several days, famous poets from throughout the Arab world will read their work as part of the festival.
On day seven, the festival will move to Khorfakkan, where the literary council will meet.
Arabic Poetry Festival launches its 19th edition on Monday
sharjah 24
Al Owais CF
