"Al Dhafra Book" It attracts 44 thousand visitors in its fifth session

Al Dhafra, December 21 / WAM / The fifth session of the Al Dhafra Book Festival 2024, which was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, attracted about 44 thousand visitors, an increase of 15% over last year, and was organized by the Abu Dhabi Center. for the Arabic language, in the public park in Madinat Zayed, during the period from 9 to 15 December, under the slogan “Irrigating the Dhafra” And he narrates it.”

Over the course of seven continuous days, the festival reviewed 50,000 titles published by 100 local and Arab publishing houses, and presented to the audience of the western region 200 cultural, artistic, musical, and entertainment events targeting adults and children, transporting them to an intense carnival atmosphere, led by roaming performance bands.

It was noticeable in this session that the number of participating publishing houses increased by 100% compared to last year, thanks to the distinguished reputation enjoyed by the Al Dhafra Book Festival, which has become one of the most prominent events at the state level.

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, said that the festival continued its success in supporting the local publishing movement, providing a supportive atmosphere for reading, and enhancing the presence of the Arabic language through its various manifestations in the arts and sciences.

He praised the large turnout from the public who interacted with the festival’s programs and activities, which confirms its success in introducing the rich heritage of Al Dhafra, its interest in attracting artistic, cultural, and heritage talents and creations, its focus on young men and women, and empowering them by providing them with opportunities to present their projects within a social cultural environment that provides them with all Means of support, which is an important axis within the strategy of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, which at its core promotes the creative industries related to the language, especially in the fields of arts, artificial intelligence, publishing movement, and creative industries in the language. Arabic”.

The fifth session of the festival introduced 4 new activities, the most prominent of which is “Hadira Baynouna”, which simulates a real heritage scene when people gathered around the storytellers to listen to their stories and enjoy the taste of coffee prepared on firewood, and “Who is for us”, which presented live cooking demonstrations by professional chefs. And productive families in Al Dhafra. In addition to the two “Junior League” events, which included sports competitions that attracted young people in an enthusiastic competitive environment, The “Musical Program”, which included singing sessions performed by artists Qusay Al-Maamari, Muhammad Al-Menhali, and Khaled Muhammad, in addition to a large concert by the “Arab Choir” band.

For the third year in a row, the program “Nights of Poetry: Voices That People Loved” was attended at the festival in a new format titled “The Secret of the Poem.” It hosted the poets Sultan Al-Rafisa, Ali Al-Kindi Al-Marar, and Abdullah Omar Al-Mansouri. It also organized a poetry session entitled “Behind the Poem.” Poets Rashid Al-Futtaima Al-Mansouri, Hamdan Al-Samahi, Sultan bin Khalif Al-Taniji, and journalist Mohammed Al-Amri participated in it.

Within the framework of the festival, the historic Al Dhafra Fort witnessed a ceremony honoring the winners of the second session of the Gold Narrative Award 2024, which aims to appreciate narrators of biographies, literature, and folk narratives locally and in the Arab world, and shed light on the Emirati folktale and narrative arts, and inspiring productions in this field.

The festival allocated an integrated program targeting children and young people with interactive activities that aroused their enthusiasm and contributed to enhancing their mental growth and developing their skills in an entertaining context, the most prominent of which was the “Generation Alpha” program, which included various sessions and workshops that provided participants with new experiences and knowledge in various fields and professions, including doll making. , drawing on pottery, and making heritage artifacts that expressed love for the homeland and belonging to it, and strengthened their connection to their Arabic language.

The festival derives its vision from the region’s rich cultural heritage, the beauty of its environment, and the long history of its history, full of authenticity, generosity, and creativity.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, the festival has become an innovative cultural heritage event that enhances the cultural agenda of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, connects the people of Al Dhafra with their ancient Emirati heritage, strengthens their connection to the ancient past, and stimulates in them the values ​​of belonging and loyalty to the homeland.

The festival’s strategy also seeks to build a reading community that possesses awareness and culture, and is able to contribute effectively to the renaissance and continued development of the UAE.

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