The grand opening ceremony, a testament to the festival's broad appeal, took place at the Espanyol Theater in Tetouan. The event was graced by the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Department of Culture in Sharjah, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Department, Abdel Razzaq Al Mansouri, Governor of Tetouan Province, and Zohour Amhaouch, Regional Director of Culture. They were joined by a diverse audience, including writers, intellectuals, university students, and word enthusiasts, all united in their love for culture and literature.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Mukhles Al Saghir, the director of the House of Poetry in Tetouan. He welcomed the attendees and emphasized that Sharjah's support has made a significant impact on poetry in the Arab world, particularly in Arabic poetry. He highlighted the festival's significance as a cultural landmark in Morocco, showcasing abundant creative output annually.
Abdullah Al Owais delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of revitalizing poetic gatherings to enhance creativity and beauty. He stated, "We come together once again in the realm of poetry, amidst the city of Tetouan and its peaceful ambience, for a new edition of the Tetouan Festival of Moroccan Poets. Here, creativity finds ample space, and poetic verses spread across the region, offering a variety of fragrant flowers that correspond to the changing seasons."
Al Owais reminisced about the early days of establishing the House of Poetry in Tetouan and its significant cultural impact over the years. He mentioned, "The House of Poetry in Tetouan has always been a hub for poetry, enriching the atmosphere of this historic city. Poets have always been eager and passionate to be part of it. I fondly remember the day the house opened in the spring of 2016, marking the promise that poetry would be celebrated throughout the year. This was made possible through the sincere efforts and exemplary cooperation between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, reflecting the strong and fraternal relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Morocco under the wise leadership of both countries."
The head of the Department of Culture conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the festival participants. He said, "I am honoured, on this occasion, to convey to you the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wishes for your success."
The festival began with a speech by the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mohamed Mahdi Ben Said. The speech was delivered by Zohour Amhaouch, the Regional Director of Culture. During her welcoming speech, she stated: "I am pleased to participate with you in the opening ceremony of the Moroccan Poets Festival, which embodies a model of close cooperation between the Ministry and the Department of Culture in the Government of Sharjah."
She also added from Bin Saeed’s speech: "We praise the distinguished efforts made by the House of Poetry in Tetouan to revitalise the cultural scene in Morocco. We highly value the initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, appreciating the efforts of the Department of Culture in the continuation of this successful cultural experience."
She emphasized that the ongoing success of the festival sessions and the various activities organized by the House of Poetry in Tetouan are not due to chance, but rather the outcome of thorough institutional work carried out in close collaboration between the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and the Department of Culture in Sharjah.
Al Mahdi bin Saeed congratulated the two honorees in this festival session: the writer Mohammed Al Ashari and the media personality Zubaida Al Fatihi. He also expressed his thanks to the committee supervising the festival's organization.
The current festival session paid tribute to two creative figures: Moroccan literary poet Mohammed Al Ashari, a prominent figure in the contemporary Moroccan cultural scene, and a key figure in the Arab cultural scene.
The second honoured personality was represented by Zubaida El Fatihi, a journalist from Tetouan, who appeared on the first Moroccan channel for viewers.
The two honorees expressed their gratitude to Sharjah, acknowledging it as the hub of Arab culture due to its significant cultural contributions on both the Arab and international stages. They also commended Dar Al Sha’ar’s efforts and its cultural impact on Tetouan and the entire Kingdom of Morocco over the past years.
Al Owais, Al Quseir, Amhawish, and Al Mansouri presented the honorees with certificates of appreciation and commemorative shields in honor of their intellectual and creative efforts.
The opening ceremony featured poetry readings by three talented individuals: Muhammad Ali Al Rabawi, Sakina Habibullah, and Abu Firas Brook.
The poets who took part in the festival's opening night expressed their gratitude to Sharjah for its support and encouragement of creative individuals from across the Arab world.
The Poetry House in Tetouan has announced the winners of the "First Collection of Young Poets Award—Tetouan" in its fifth session. This demonstrates the House's commitment to embracing new poetic experiences and voices and its support for young poets and their work. The winning collections will be published as part of the award.
The winners of the current session are: Abdel Samad Agwao in first place for his collection of poems, "Stars for Me and You," Mohamed Ashraf Al Shawi in second place for his collection, "To the Margin, I Throw My Face," and Laila Al Khamlishi in third place for her collection, "A Woman in a Purple Coat."
Al Owais, Al Quseir, and Amhawish presented the winners with certificates of appreciation to honor their creative efforts.
In conclusion, the Lebanese artist Jahida Wahba performed a concert during which she presented singing segments that received broad interaction with the audience and presented a collection of traditional and popular songs.
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