Dima Al Shamsi: SFAL fosters cultural connections

Sharjah 24: Dima Al Shamsi, Head of Media Relations at the Sharjah Book Authority, announced the launch of the Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL), which began on Friday and will run for four days until January 27, from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Fostering cultural communication between Africa and the Arab World

Al Shamsi explained that the first session of the festival aims to build bridges of communication between African and Arab cultures, both of which are rich in literature and tradition.

Family-friendly activities and entertainment

The event features a variety of activities, including workshops, discussion panels, and musical performances, offering entertainment for all family members.

Prominent participants and educational workshops

Al Shamsi added to “Sharjah 24” that the festival brings together 29 Emirati and African writers, including Nobel Prize winners Abdul Razak Gurnah and Wole Soyinka, who will participate in 8 book discussions and 3 seminars. The event aims to highlight the significance of African literary and artistic contributions to global culture. In addition, the festival will host 12 children’s workshops featuring creative activities like stone drawing, pottery making, and jewelry creation, while also offering reading sessions of African tales to engage young visitors.