Abidjan Hosts Third Edition Of Arabic Poetry Forum With Sharjah's Support

Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Republic of Ivory Coast hosted the third edition of the Arabic Poetry Forum. This event is part of an initiative to promote poetry forums in Africa.

The forum was organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Sharjah Department of Culture, in collaboration with the Vision Foundation for Culture and Training. It took place in Abidjan's Plateau district conference hall and featured 15 poets.

Attendees included Ali Yousef Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Ivory Coast; Rana Rizk from the Lebanese embassy; Dr. Fadiga Moussa, President of Al Furqan University; Dr. Mohamed Al Amin, Vice President of the Islamic African University; and various heads of Arab diplomatic missions, university professors, and cultural figures.

Dr. Bamba Issiaka, General Coordinator of the forum, welcomed attendees by saying, "We welcome you to this joyful event that has come to us from Sharjah, the capital of Arabic poetry. In this context, we extend our thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for providing support and care for the Arabic language in Ivory Coast. It is the language of science, knowledge, culture, and Islamic civilisation, and most manuscripts in Africa have been written in it."

Poetic Themes

The participants delivered a series of vibrant readings that covered a range of themes including national pride, romance, social issues, and humanitarian concerns.

Ali Al Nuaimi also addressed the audience with a speech stating: "Three editions of enjoying poetry, impactful words, imagination, and metaphors in these African countries, which are rich in creative talents in literature and in various domains."

Awards and Recognition

The forum concluded with a speech by Dr. Bamba Issiaka praising the poets' participation. Awards and certificates were then distributed to all poets and participants involved in the forum.

This event highlights Sharjah's ongoing commitment to promoting Arabic culture and literature across Africa.

With inputs from WAM