Sharjah International Narrator Forum Achieves Milestone With 25th Edition Focused On Global Storytelling

The 25th Sharjah International Narrator Forum, themed "Tales of Travellers," marked a significant milestone in its history. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, expressed gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi for his unwavering support. The event attracted participants from 37 countries, including over 90 storytellers, researchers, and academics.

Al Musallam acknowledged the contributions of various countries and organisations that played a role in the forum's success both locally and internationally. The forum featured more than 100 workshops and introduced 40 new publications under the Eyes of Journeys series and the Arab Travel Blog. This initiative reinforced its status as a unique global reference for storytelling and travel literature.

Aisha Rashid Al Hussan Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Centre for Cultural Heritage, highlighted new initiatives like the Visual Storytelling Workshop and Dialect Laboratory. The first edition of the Narrator Programme for adult storytellers was also launched. These programmes aimed to enhance storytelling skills and promote cultural heritage.

During six days of discussions, participants proposed creating an encyclopedia of Arab travel literature and an atlas of travellers' tales. They emphasised using geographical manuscripts to reconstruct ancient cities and integrating artificial intelligence to preserve Arab heritage. Comparative studies with global travel literature were also suggested.

The forum honoured several individuals for their contributions to culture and heritage. Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was recognised as Honourary Personality, while Italian academic Claudia Maria received the Cultural Personality award. Loyalty Awards went to Emirati scholar Ali Al Shaloubi and Moroccan artist Amina Kousto.

Six exhibitions were held, including "Tales of Travellers" by Mohammed Al Murr and "Travel Literature" by Mohammed Sadiq. Works by Meera Al Qasimi, Ibrahim Al Buraidi, and Amina Kousto were also showcased. The Maldives, as Guest of Honour, presented its heritage through artistic performances.

Cultural Performances and Partnerships

The closing ceremony featured a Maldivian cultural performance along with a documentary highlighting the forum’s achievements. Al Musallam honoured strategic partners such as the University of Sharjah, Zhejiang University in China, Qatar National Library, MBC Academy, and local entities like the Environment and Protected Areas Authority.

Al Musallam noted that this extensive support underscores cultural institutions' dedication to enhancing national identity. It also strengthens Sharjah’s reputation as a global centre for culture and heritage preservation.

With inputs from WAM