Sharjah24: His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF), Sunday honoured narrators, guests, participants, and Sponsors and Strategy authorities of SINF during a ceremony that brought the 21st edition of the event to a close. The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Centre of International Organisations for Cultural Heritage.
Aisha Al-Hussan Al-Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Center of the Institute and General Coordinator of the Forum, shared several recommendations after the bustling event, which celebrated living treasures, and which included a range of workshops, events, and attractions.
Conclude the SINF in the eastern region
The 21st edition of SINF in the eastern region, which concluded yesterday, witnessed a remarkable turnout across all sites, from Khorfakkan to Kalba and from Dibba Al-Hisn to Al Dhaid. Activities, programs, and events will continue virtually via the Sharjah Institute for Heritage’s online platforms and social media until 30 September.
The next year’s theme will be under “The Sea” slogan
His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, said: “We have traversed a 21-year journey of the narrator and his stories, with the latest instalment under the slogan ‘Animal Stories’. We will continue to explore the depths of this amazing world of stories and next year, God willing, we will meet with a new version of the forum, which will build and expand on what has been achieved on this journey to date. We can confirm that next year’s theme will be ‘The Sea’ slogan.”
His Excellency continued: “What we have achieved during this eventful journey would not have manifested without the continuous support and permanent care of the patron of culture, heritage, science and knowledge, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The SINF has become a milestone on the cultural calendar and, while a large and encompassing event, is also unique in the sense that it stems from the sincere soul and caring hand of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah. Such generous support requires that we make every effort to achieve the highest levels of success, excellence and creativity.”
The recommendations
From her side, Aisha Al-Hussan Al-Shamsi said:” The recommendations included inviting institutions and bodies working in the field of heritage to adopt, develop and disseminate major projects of Arab folklore on the widest scale so that interest would spread, as well as the classification of folklore in ancient Arab heritage books, recording and documenting animal stories from heritage books and presenting them in an new and interesting formats, and including folktales in the school curricula”.
She added: “Another recommendation was to conduct comparative studies between tales to determine similarities and places of origin, as well as the correct scientific use of heritage definitions to avoid confusion, and the evaluation and publication of scientific papers presented as part of the Forum’s intellectual program. Furthermore, the establishment of an Arab heritage union was suggested. Finally, the preservation of cultural heritage through the strengthening of communication and coordination between the various heritage and cultural institutions in the Arab world was advised. “
Animal stories in Arabic drama
As part of the 21st edition of SINF, Egyptian actor Yehia El-Fakharany and Egyptian actor Hala Fakher participated in a symposium titled ‘Animal Stories in Arab Drama’, which was moderated by the Emirati artist Habib Ghuloom. The symposium took place on the stage of the Center for International Organizations for Cultural Heritage at the SIH and saw remarkable engagement and interaction from the audience.
Dubbing cartoon works
El-Fakharany talked about his experience in dubbing cartoons produced by the Walt Disney Company, and shared notes on his involvement in the Egyptian family drama ‘Animal Stories in the Qur'an’.
He also commented on the absence of a strategy to establish an Arab animation industry that draws from the Arab heritage and glorifies Arab moral values, stating that the younger generation’s devotion to foreign cartoons and animation that call for violence do not align with the moral values and culture of Arab societies. He stressed that the implementation of this role falls on official state institutions rather than the private sector.
“Bogy We Tamtam” TV program
During the symposium, Fakher spoke about her experience in children's dramas, especially ‘Bogy We Tamtam’ the TV program, in which she utilizes dolls as the dramatic characters of the work.
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