The forum is implementing the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to honour literary figures who have contributed to serving Arab culture. It is important to note that the forum is being held for the third time in Morocco.
The honoring ceremony took place at the Cultural Center in downtown Casablanca. Among the attendees were Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department in the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Latifa Muftaqar, Director of Books at the Moroccan Ministry of Culture and Director of the National Library; Kenza Chraibi, President of Sidi Beliout District; Mohammed Al Rumaithi, representative of the UAE Embassy in Morocco; Saeed Al Alawi, Director of the Cultural Complex; as well as the families of the honorees and a large number of Moroccan intellectuals, writers, and academics.
Moroccan poet Mokhles Al Saghir, director of the Poetry House in Tetouan, hosted the ceremony. He emphasized the forum's significance in the Arab world as a cultural event that recognises Arab writers. He stressed that it is not just a celebration but also an opportunity to revisit the honoree's works and creativity and contemplate them once again.
Abdullah Al Owais stated at the start of his speech that joy and happiness are rejuvenated through fraternal meetings, and the bonds of love are strengthened when they are enhanced by Arab communication and joint cooperation. He emphasized that this is exemplified by the deep historical relations between the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, under wise leadership that values the significance of maintaining Arab communication in all areas.
Al Owais added: “Here we are today representing a model of these principles through the Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honor, which aims to honour cultural figures who have enriched the contemporary Arab arena with creativity in the field of literature in its various fields. After the forum moved between the countries of the Arab world, we return today for the third time to honour a new constellation of Moroccan writers who were devoted to their creativity and lavished their gifts and diverse literary productions.”
The head of the Cultural Department conveyed the congratulations of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the honourees, saying: “In this regard, I have the honour to convey to the honorees the congratulations of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on this honour in appreciation of their efforts and sincere contributions. I am also honoured to convey to you all greetings from His Highness and his wishes for your success and prosperity.”
He also expressed his thanks for the official Moroccan cooperation, saying: “I am also pleased, on this occasion, to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and to his members in the Ministry for their fruitful cooperation in organising this high-level ceremony.”
On behalf of Mr. Mohamed Mahdi Ben Said, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, Latifa Mouftaqar, Director of the National Library, delivered the ministry’s speech, at which she welcomed the audience, saying: “I am honoured to attend with you, on behalf of Mr. Mohamed Mahdi Ben Said, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication in this important cultural forum, I am pleased to welcome the brothers from the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, wishing them a good position among us.”
She added, "Today, we are pleased to host the Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honor in its eighteenth session, which is organised by the Department of Culture of the Government of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. This event is a result of the partnership and cooperation relations between our two brotherly countries. The Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honor is held in various Arab capitals and is under the patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. This forum aims to celebrate Arab intellectuals, appreciate their contributions to knowledge, creativity, and scientific projects, and honour their cultural history."
She continued, "Therefore, this forum, which we are organising for the third time in the Kingdom of Morocco, upholds a tradition that celebrates the culture of honour as a way to express gratitude to the pioneering generation. The selection of Casablanca as the host city for this forum is also a tribute to the city's prominence in the cultural industries at both the Arab and African levels. Casablanca has historically been a major centre of knowledge and the primary incubator for culture and arts."
At the end of his speech, the Moroccan Minister of Culture, Youth and Communication congratulated the honorees at the forum, saying: “In this joyful celebration, we congratulate the honorees in this session. We also renew our appreciation and thanks to the Department of Culture in Sharjah for making this joyful forum a success, it is true that honouring four Moroccan prominent figures' culture on this day is a tribute to Moroccan culture and a tribute to the city of Casablanca and to those who watch over its contemporary glory and its dazzling global radiance.”
The honorees praised the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in serving culture at the Arab and international levels, stressing that Sharjah is an Arab cultural lever, considering that the forum went beyond the concept of honouring in its material sense, to become a moral honour and an actual and practical embrace of writers and creators from all Arab countries, and a great motivation towards achieving more of literary works.
Mubarak Rabie said: “I am honoured to have this distinguished cultural moment of honour on more than one level, and rich in connotations and signals, as it is a joint and unifying affair between the officials of the cultural institution in two brotherly countries, from the wings of the Arab National, the East and the West, and that Sharjah is the first to build its renaissance on the foundations of cultural knowledge of the spirit of the era and its development prospects, thus embodying and advancing towards universality, considering culture as one of the exponential levers of development, to find itself at the same time moving on this approach, faithful to its authentic cultural spirit.”
Rabie felt a renewed sense of pride in this moment of honour, considering that its significance goes beyond time, space, and humanity to resonate with intellectuals from both the West and the East towards our shared aspiration to strengthen Arab cultural unity. He expressed sincere gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the Department of Culture in Sharjah for their efforts in reinforcing the cultural influence at all levels within our Arab societies.
Saeed Benkrad said: “This honour has a special place for me because I did not search for it or seek it, and I was very pleased with it. Those who honoured me only know about me from what I wrote and what I am trying to write. They pick up everything that indicates my role in the Arab cultural scene. This is what makes the role of the Department of Culture in Sharjah distinctive.”
Benkrad stated, "When honor comes from parties that are not seeking anything other than celebrating the creators and those who write in the Arabic language and its culture, the matter takes on different dimensions. This means that I have not been forgotten and that there is someone who hears me, in order to make me present in the memories of readers I do not know. This is the utmost joy, and perhaps one of the advantages of honoring is that it does not announce an end, but rather inaugurates a new beginning."
Amina Al-Marini, a poet known as the Khansa of Morocco from the city of Fez, emphasized that being honoured is a great privilege. She expressed her gratitude for being recognized alongside prominent figures in Arab and Moroccan culture. She stated, "I believe that being honoured is a source of support for the recipient, and it signifies a deep sense of nobility as it motivates them to overcome seemingly difficult challenges."
She expressed her gratitude to Sharjah: "Thank you to the skilled individuals from Sharjah who illuminate every corner of the Arab world with their talents, turning the pen into a symbol and literature into a flourishing tree. I am grateful to all the devoted and sincere individuals who still believe that the power of words endures and that writing continues to enrich humanity with its essence."
Khanata Bannouna considered that the honor constitutes an important incentive for Arab creators and writers, expressing at the same time her happiness with the honor that “comes from the emirate of Arab culture: Sharjah, whose cultural, humanitarian and civilizational project seeks to address everything that is deeply rooted in the Arab conscience,” offering her sincere thanks to Sharjah and its ruler.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Abdullah Al Owais and Muhammad Al Qasir, accompanied by the Director of the National Library and the President of Sidi Beliout District, handed over certificates of appreciation to the four honorees, signed by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, in appreciation of their literary and intellectual efforts in the Arab cultural arena.
The honouring ceremony was accompanied by an exhibition that included a number of publications of the Sharjah Department of Culture, including Sharjah Cultural Magazine, Al Rafid Magazine, Al Qawafi Magazine, and Al Theater Magazine. The attendees had the opportunity to purchase magazines, where they viewed cultural titles that varied between local Emirati, Arab, and international.
The closing ceremony featured a musical and singing performance by child artist Sami Al-Sharaiti, accompanied by the Dar Al-Tarab band in Casablanca. Sami presented classic works of Arab lyric poetry during the performance.
The Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honor is a significant event in the Arab cultural world. It has been held 18 times in different Arab cities and has honored many Arab writers for their valuable contributions to literature. The forum aims to recognize and appreciate the work of Arab writers, thinkers, critics, and creators. It is seen as more than just an award ceremony; it's a commitment to support and promote cultural excellence in the years to come.
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