Arab Cultural Club holds seminar about "Tayeb Salih"

During the event, Dr Lamia Shamat praised Tayeb Salih, a celebrated Sudanese novelist known for his engaging storytelling and deep themes. She highlighted how critics regard him as a "Genius of the Arabic Novel."

The purpose of the evening was to celebrate the release of a new book by Mohamed Khalafallah titled "The Open Narrative Text: The Art of Storytelling in Tayeb Salih's Works," which was published by the Africa Academy in Sharjah. Khalafallah emphasized that storytelling is closely connected to our memories, which can change over time due to new experiences and knowledge. He explained that in today's narratives, stories aren't always told in a straight line; they are more fluid.

Khalafallah noted that Tayeb Salih skillfully employed the idea of memory in his writings. All of his stories and novels can be seen as part of one big narrative, centered around the village of Duma Wad Hamid. The characters and events in his works reflect the life and changes happening in this village, allowing for different interpretations over time. As Salih evolved as a writer, he presented fresh insights about himself through both his short stories and his final novel.

In his paper, Dr Ghanem Al-Samarrai discussed the importance of Tayeb Salih’s work, explaining how he is a key figure in literature who skillfully connects local stories with global themes. Salih’s novel, *Season of Migration to the North*, serves as a bridge between Arabic literature and the wider world, showcasing the interactions between different cultures.

Al-Samarrai noted that in the context of post-colonial writing, the term "locality" goes beyond merely referring to specific places. Instead, it becomes a way to share knowledge and tell stories that resist Western cultural dominance. This approach allows writers to voice their unique experiences, highlighting the struggles for identity that arise from their local backgrounds. Notable figures in this movement include Tayeb Salih, who turned his village along the Nile into a stage for exploring identity; Naguib Mahfouz, who used the streets of Cairo to reflect the broader Arab experience; and Chinua Achebe from Nigeria, who focused on reclaiming African culture and history after colonial influence. Despite their different methods, these writers agree that celebrating local stories is essential for understanding global issues, as it challenges Western perspectives and gives a voice to those often overlooked.

Majdoub Eidrous, another scholar, emphasized that Tayeb Salih's vibrant storytelling and rich characters are influenced by his childhood in Karmakol, a village along the Nile that was home to diverse ethnic groups and cultures. Later, his move to Port Sudan, where various communities lived together, deepened this understanding of humanity, helping him appreciate different perspectives.

In his remarks, Mohamed Abdel Rahman Hassan Boub highlighted the social aspects of Salih's literature, suggesting that literature can really help us understand society. He argued that while many believe Salih wrote mainly about the conflict between the Arab world and the West after his time in Britain, it’s important to reconsider this idea. Salih was more focused on addressing the internal struggles within his own society. The characters in his stories reflect ongoing debates about modernity versus tradition, particularly through the character of Mustafa Saeed, who embodies the challenges of belonging in a world where he faces racism and exclusion despite his achievements.