Sharjah International Narrator Forum Highlights Travel Literature And Global Storytelling

The 25th Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF), organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, commenced its silver jubilee edition with the theme "Travelers' Tales." The opening day featured discussions on narrative, memory, and language in travelers' experiences throughout history. Arab narrators also shared storytelling presentations, enriching the forum's diverse offerings.

Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, led a session titled "A Journey Through Memory and Narrative." He shared his insights into travel literature, emphasising that his work transcends simple descriptions or tourist accounts. Instead, it captures personal impressions and human interactions with visited places.

Al Murr described his writing as diary-like, capturing internal reflections and emotions. He highlighted that quality travel literature merges autobiography with narrative art. While photography is valuable, he believes it cannot replace written words and practices it respectfully, avoiding photographing people without consent.

He noted that a single place can inspire different interpretations based on a writer’s background. Approaching travel without expectations allows for genuine wonder and empathy. Comparing travel literature to digital content, he observed that many bloggers offer superficial portrayals, while few provide culturally rich content.

In another session, Adam Nasir Ibrahim, Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage, discussed Arabic's influence on Dhivehi. He explained how Arabic vocabulary and grammar have shaped Dhivehi over centuries due to historical exchanges between the Maldives and Arab nations through trade, religion, and travel.

Nasir described Arabic as both a religious language and a cultural bridge. He urged younger generations to preserve this linguistic heritage. Emphasising cultural dialogue's importance, he highlighted how language and storytelling foster mutual understanding across communities.

Sharjah's Role in Promoting Heritage

This session underscored Sharjah’s global role in promoting literature and heritage preservation. It highlighted the emirate's efforts in building lasting cultural bridges between civilizations through storytelling events like SINF.

The forum also featured workshops and story sessions centred around legendary travelers like Ibn Battuta. His famous travel journal detailed his journey from Tangier—a city known for its abundance of knowledge—echoing curiosity celebrated at the forum.

Ibn Battuta’s tales reinforced the event’s mission to explore connections between storytelling, history, and human experience. The forum concluded with Al Murr signing his three travel books: Around the World in 22 Days, Beautiful Zanzibar, and Madagascar: Coasts and Boats.

With inputs from WAM