The 21st edition of Sharjah Arabic Poetry comes to a close

January 13, 2025 / 11:28 PM

Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival wrapped up its 21st session yesterday evening, held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Over the course of seven days, the festival attracted a diverse array of poets, poetesses, critics, and media professionals from various Arab countries as well as several African nations.

Cultural Palace hosts closing ceremony

The closing ceremony took place at the Cultural Palace in Sharjah, attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, the Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah, along with Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, the Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and Mohammed Al Buraiki, the Director of the House of Poetry. The event also welcomed a distinguished group of poets, intellectuals, academics, and enthusiasts of the written word.

Poetry readings

The festival not only showcased poetry readings but also provided a special area for signing poetry collections by a talented group of individuals. It proudly introduced Arab readers to twelve new winners from the third session of the Golden Rhymes Award. Additionally, the event featured an engaging intellectual symposium titled “Arabic Poetry: From Stability to Transformation.”

Honoring Talal Al-Junaibi and Hussein Al-Abdullah

The current session of the festival celebrated two esteemed poets, Talal Al-Junaibi from the UAE and Hussein Al-Abdullah from Syria, who were honored with the Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry in its 13th edition. Their creative contributions have significantly enriched the Arab literary scene, adding a multitude of remarkable poetic works to the Arab library.

African poets participation

Notably, poets from African countries such as Senegal, Mali, Niger, and Chad took part in a scene that reflects the festival’s willingness to embrace new poetic horizons. This engagement enhances the richness of Arab poetry gatherings across Africa.