15 creatives gather at Guinea Arab poetry forum

Promoting Arabic language and culture
The Arab Poetry Forums in Africa implement the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, aiming to expand the reach of the Arabic language, promote culture, and provide new opportunities for creatives to showcase their talents in classical Arabic poetry.

Attendance of prominent figures
The forum was attended by Professor Daniel Lamah, Director of General Lansana Conté University in Sonfonia, Guinea; Mr Momoya Silla, Deputy Director of Academic Affairs; Dr Al Hussein Jallo, the first doctorate holder in Arabic education in Guinea; Othman Ahmed Doukoury, Chairman of the Community Service Foundation; Abdullah Gabi, Secretary-General of Religious Affairs in the Municipality of Sonfonia; and a large audience of Arabic poetry enthusiasts.

Strengthening the bond between poetry and language
The forum’s general coordinator, Mr Kaba Imran, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Language Sciences and Director of the PhD Programme in Arabic Language and Civilisation at Sonfonia University, welcomed attendees and highlighted the close connection between Arabic poetry and the language itself. He said: “Whoever wishes to serve the Holy Qur’an must do so through the Arabic language, and whoever wishes to serve Arabic must do so through poetry.”

He noted that the forum greatly benefits cultural activities in Guinea, instilling in students a love for knowledge and Arabic poetry, while scholars and imams anticipate a promising future for Arabic education in the country.

Appreciation for support from Sharjah
Daniel Lamah expressed gratitude for the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture for their interest in and support of the forum. He highlighted how the initiative encourages young poets to be creative, enriches their ambitions, and fosters a love of Arabic poetry.