Coordinators of poetry in Africa: Sharjah has become a cultural bridge between the continent and the Arab world

Sharjah on June 7 / WAM / The coordinators of poetry in Africa confirmed that Sharjah’s continuous support for literary activities on the continent contributed to a qualitative shift in the African cultural scene through pioneering cultural projects that restored the Arabic language and Arab poetry their strong presence in public life and opened new horizons for cultural exchange between African creators and the Arab world.

In their statements, these coordinators agreed that Sharjah has become the Arab Diwan in preserving the Arab cultural heritage and supporting its historical pillars, through its initiatives according to a cultural, advisory vision aimed at supporting the spread of Arabic literature as a container of identity, a tool for dialogue and a platform for humanitarian expression.

The coordinators pointed out that this vision represented by the forums of Arab poetry in Africa, whose pillars of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah contributed to the establishment of a new cultural stage in Africa, giving hundreds of poets opportunities to appear, documenting and publishing within integrated projects that are sponsored and supervised by the implementation of the Culture Department in Sharjah in cooperation with local cultural institutions in every country.

The coordinators in the African countries that were included in the initiative, which included Mali, Chad, Guinea, Niger, South Sudan, Nigeria, Benin, Ivory Coast and Senegal, spoke about the latest preparations for the fourth session that takes place in its first activities starting from June, whether in terms of the number of poets or cultural events accompanying the forums.

Dr. Abdel -Qader Idris Mega, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in the Republic of Mali, said that the Sharjah Initiative to Support Arab Poetry in Africa is one of the leading initiatives that reflects an insightful civilized vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in supporting Arab culture wherever it was found, stressing that the project was not just a poetic demonstration but rather a real platform to revive the Arabic language in environments that are historically spoken and contributed to enhancing the status of poetry as a cultural lever.

He pointed out that the forums created in Mali an unprecedented cultural activity and restored the lavishness of Arab literature in a country where the African depth intersects with the Arab -Islamic heritage.

He explained that the Arab Poetry Forum in Mali is witnessing a remarkable development in terms of organization, content and participation after the number of poets participating doubled to include a variety of young and veteran poetic voices coming from different parts The forum is seen as a forthcoming annual cultural event.

And Dr. Ahmed Abu Al -Fath Othman, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in Chad, said that the sponsorship of Sharjah for Arab poetry in Africa confirms the pioneering role played by the emirate led by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in supporting culture and the Arabic language along the Arabic -speaking geography and abroad, indicating that the poetic forums organized by the Culture Department in Sharjah contributed to the crystallization of a renewed cultural scene and provided spaces for creativity and convergence and re -momentum to poetry. A tool for expression, awareness and identity building.

He expected that the next session of the Arab Poetry Forum in Chad will witness the participation of more than 40 poets after a minute selection process from more than 200 poetry posts, explaining that what distinguishes this forum is that for the first time he was able to collect Chad poets from various regions and agencies on one platform, to share their creativity in front of a conscious and conveyor audience.

And Dr. Kaba Omran, the coordinator of the Arab poetry in Guinea, said that Arab -African poetry is very appreciated by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and pointed out that the fourth session will include many new poets who want to participate, explaining that participation was limited to poets of the capital region, but now poets from all regions of Guinea participate in it alongside poets from outside them who want to participate and confirmed that such forums were implanted in the hearts of high aspirations A large literary renaissance.

And Dr. Amadou Ali Ibrahim, the cultural coordinator in Niger, said that Sharjah is a cultural capital that echoes poetry throughout the years with the support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, stressing that the initiative of Arab poetry forums in Africa has been a successful literary journey since its first step, which was evident in the great impact that it has accumulated on the continent since its start in its first session until today.

And his aspiration expressed that the Arab Poetry Forum in Niger seeks to discover new poetic sounds and attract more audiences than the Arabic language in Niger, indicating that – as usual in previous sessions – the forum will witness two poetic segments that are interspersed with critical opinions to enrich the experience of poets and read them from a aesthetic window that overlooks the text in addition to a literary lecture that addresses the Arabic language and what is called by social dimensions Niger.

For his part, Dr. Omar Adam, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in Nigeria, said that the support and sponsorship of Sharjah for Arab poetry in Africa under the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah contributed to enriching the cultural scene in the continent significantly and through Arab poetry forums, Sharjah has strengthened a deeper appreciation of the Arabic language and its literary traditions in various African countries in addition to enabling many poets to develop their poetic tools and upgrading their text Traditional methods towards the horizons of modernity and renewal in a way that keeps pace with the contemporary movement in the global poetic scene.

He pointed out that the fourth session of the Poetry Forum in Nigeria is a prominent station in the continuous cultural march of Sharjah in Africa and based on the success of previous courses, this year will strengthen its role in promoting Arabic poetry and promoting cultural exchange, stressing that the material and institutional support of local poets contributed to spreading works through the Culture Department in Sharjah, which was published poetry collections in the Arabic language of many Nigerian poets.

And Dr. Bamba Essiaka, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in Ivory Coast, said that the cultural project sponsored by Sharjah goes beyond geographical and linguistic borders and works to enable the real creators wherever they are, through sustainable care and openness to new voices and the integration between the creative and critical act.

He pointed out that the initiative of Arab poetry forums in Africa represents a model to be followed in cultural cooperation and confirms that poetry still maintains its ability to build bridges and reshape consciousness, explaining that the Arab Poetry Forum in Ivory Coast has turned into an annual cultural date awaited by the public and pointed to the great interaction of university students and the emergence of young poetic energies.

And Dr. Mohamed Mag Riak, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in South Sudan, said that the support and care of Sharjah for Arab poetry in Africa represents an extension of a comprehensive Arab cultural vision that believes in creativity and its multiple manifestations and contributes to restoring momentum to the poetic word as a tool to express identity and collective memory, indicating that poetic forums that were organized with the support of Sharjah formed a qualitative addition to the local cultural scene.

He added: “We were keen this year to expand the circle of participation to include poetic sounds from different generations and schools, in addition to a remarkable presence of a qualitative and connoisseur .. As for the accompanying events, it is scheduled to include critical seminars, literary workshops and dialogue meetings that enhance the audience’s interaction with poets.

Dr. Muhammad Al -Hadi Sal, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in Senegal, pointed out that the sponsorship of Sharjah for Arab poetry in Africa is a leading initiative that reflects a real belief in the value of the word and its role in building cultural bridges between people It caused a tangible cultural movement and opened the way for a wide audience to interact with poets and texts and launched new spaces for expression and dialogue.

Sal indicated that the fourth session comes with greater momentum, whether in terms of the number of participants or the diversity of events, explaining that there is a distinguished presence of poets from multiple schools and experiences, in addition to a rich cultural program that includes poetic readings, critical sessions and parallel artistic performances.

Dr. Ibrahim Ugun, coordinator of the Arab Poetry Forum in Benin, said that it is not possible to talk about the betting of Arabic poetry in Africa without stopping at the remarkable role that Sharjah plays through its cultural initiatives aimed at supporting the word and devoting its presence in the public space after this sponsorship turned from mere support to an integrated cultural project that gives literary platforms on the continent a new boost, describing the poetry forums that were held under the care of Sharjah that it became clear A real crane for the poetic scene, a reinforcement of dialogues, experimentation, and an open space for poets and the public alike.

He explained that the Arab Poetry Forum in Boys is taking confident steps towards consolidating its position among the most prominent cultural events in the country.

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