Poetry Houses in Arab world promote Arabic language

Sharjah 24: The “Poetry Houses” initiative, launched by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in 2015, has succeeded in preserving the status of poetry and appreciating it as an authentic Arab creativity that was and will remain the memory of the nation and the diwan of its language and letters, and in making poetry houses centres of radiance for poetry and literature.

The cultural initiative "Houses of Poetry", launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in 2015, has succeeded in preserving the status of poetry and appreciating it as an authentic Arab creativity that was and will remain the memory of the nation and the diwan of its language, and in making houses of poetry centres of radiance for poetry and literature, and a meeting place for poets of all spectrums in their countries, preserving their creative movement and gathering their poetic and literary energy, in a way that contributes to raising poetic and creative taste and encouraging cultural and poetic movement in the Arab creative arena.

A cultural initiative established in 6 Arab countries

Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture in Sharjah, said in a press statement that the launch of poetry houses in the Arab world took place 10 years ago, through a cultural initiative established by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in 6 Arab countries, the first of which was in 2015 in Mafraq in Jordan, Luxor in Egypt, Kairouan Poetry House in Tunisia, and Nouakchott Poetry House in Mauritania, followed in 2016 by Khartoum Poetry House, and in Morocco, where the House of Poetry was established in Tetouan, and finally the House of Poetry in Marrakesh in 2017.

Cultural Lighthouses

He added that poetry houses have become cultural beacons in the countries in which they are located and a destination for all writers at a time when the scope of activities of each house expands beyond its borders through travel to local cities, noting that the House of Poetry in Kairouan reached the capital Tunis, coastal Monastir, Sousse and other Tunisian regions, just as the House of Poetry in Luxor reached Egyptian governorates, as the scene of movement is repeated in "Marrakesh", "Tetouan", "Khartoum", "Mafraq" and "Nouakchott", which is an affirmation of the noble message that the houses seek to present to Arab culture.

A number of directors of poetry houses appreciated the patronage and support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, for this cultural initiative and its constant follow-up by the Department of Culture in Sharjah.

Raising the poetic taste

Hussein Al-Qabahi, Director of the House of Poetry in Luxor in Egypt, said that the "house" contributed to raising the poetic taste, strengthening the relationship of the public and intellectuals with Arabic poetry and the Arabic language, caring for it and celebrating the rising young generations that promise a bright future.

Attracting 1,000 poets and literary critics

For her part, Jamila Al-Majri, director of the House of Poetry in Kairouan, Tunisia, said that the house organises 4 monthly events between poetry evenings and critical seminars on poetry and Arabic language affairs, explaining that it was able to attract 1,000 poets and literary critics, not only from Tunisia, but also from neighbouring countries such as Libya and Algeria to participate in its activities.