Al Mafraq Arabic Poetry Festival Opens In Jordan To Celebrate Ten Years Of Cultural Contributions

Jordan's Minister of Culture, Mustafa Al Rawashdeh, has lauded the cultural contributions of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. He highlighted the Sheikh's ongoing support for Arab poetry and his efforts to enhance communication among Arab creatives by establishing poetry houses across the region.

During a meeting with Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs, Al Rawashdeh expressed his appreciation for Sharjah's initiatives. This gathering marked the launch of the 10th edition of the Al Mafraq Arabic Poetry Festival.

Al Rawashdeh congratulated Sharjah on a decade of success with the Poetry Houses Initiative. He emphasised its role in providing a creative platform for poets and writers over the years. The initiative has significantly contributed to promoting poetry in the Arab world.

Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais remarked on Jordan being the first destination for these poetry houses. He noted that Mafraq was where this cultural initiative began before expanding across the Arab world to places like Nouakchott on the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mafraq Arabic Poetry Festival was launched under the patronage of the Ruler of Sharjah. Organised by Sharjah's Department of Culture in collaboration with Jordan's Ministry of Culture, it aims to celebrate and promote Arabic poetry.

The festival's opening ceremony took place at Amman's National Library. Attendees included Al Owais, Professor Al Qaseer, Firas Al Daraba from the National Library, and numerous Jordanian and Arab intellectuals, writers, academics, and poetry enthusiasts.

A Decade of Poetic Impact

Al Owais expressed joy at celebrating the tenth edition of this festival in Amman. He highlighted how it continues to enrich Arab culture through collaboration between Sharjah's Department of Culture and Jordan's Ministry of Culture.

He also stressed that since its inception, Mafraq's House of Poetry has been a leading cultural platform. Over ten years, it has made a lasting impact on poetry in the region.

At the ceremony's conclusion, Al Owais, Al Qaseer, and Al Daraba honoured participating poets with certificates. This gesture recognised their contributions to the festival's opening sessions.

With inputs from WAM