The tenth edition of the Kairouan Festival of Arabic Poetry opened under the Mediterranean stars at the historic Ennejma Ezzahra Palace on Friday, marking a decade of a pioneering cultural initiative born in the United Arab Emirates.
The ceremony, attended by a gathering of diplomats, ministers, and literary figures, served as a powerful testament to the cross-border influence of Sharjah’s cultural projects. The festival is a flagship event of the “Houses of Poetry” network, an initiative launched by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
A New Encyclopedia for the Arab World
The evening featured a major announcement from Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture. He revealed the publication of the first 60 volumes of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia of Sciences, Literature, Arts, and Personalities—the initial phase of a massive scholarly project involving 700 academics across the Arab world.
“This is the first fruit of a project divided into four phases,” stated Al Owais, framing it as the latest cultural milestone following the completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. The volumes will be made accessible online.
Celebrating a Decade of Poetic Beacon
The festival doubles as a 10th-anniversary celebration for the House of Poetry in Kairouan, the Tunisian hub of Sharjah’s network. Officials hailed its role as a crucible for creativity.
“The House in Kairouan has been a shining beacon,” said Al Owais, praising its success in bridging generations of poets and becoming a “welcoming destination” for creativity across the Arab world.
Jamila El Mejri, Director of the Kairouan House, detailed its substantial impact: over 450 cultural events and 1,300 participating artists in ten years. “We have succeeded in establishing the noble principles envisioned by His Highness,” she said, aiming to protect Arab identity through poetry.
High-Level Praise and Partnership
The partnership between Sharjah and Tunisian cultural authorities was a repeated theme. Dr. Tawfiq Qarira, representing the Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, conveyed official gratitude for Sheikh Sultan’s support, which has yielded “literary, critical, intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural” fruits.
The sentiment was echoed by UAE diplomat Saeed Rashid Al Hafiti and other officials, underscoring the deep fraternal ties facilitating the project.
Future Voices and Lasting Legacy
True to its mission of nurturing new talent, the opening night featured readings by young poets, some as young as seven, who received enthusiastic applause. Their participation highlighted the House’s focus on cultivating future literary voices.
An accompanying exhibition showcased publications from Sharjah and awards bestowed upon the Kairouan House, while a documentary film recapped its decade of activity.
Venue: A Palace of Music and Heritage
The choice of venue, the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace, added symbolic weight. The early 20th-century landmark, a masterpiece blending Tunisian and Andalusian architecture that now houses the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music, provided a fitting backdrop for a night celebrating the region’s enduring cultural heritage.
TunisianMonitorOnline (BRC)
