15 Poets Who Captivated the Senegal Arabic Poetry Festival

Participants at the forum

Summary

Senegal celebrates the fifth forum of Arab poetry, supported by Sharjah, featuring 15 poets to promote the Arabic language and cultural communication through diverse poetic recitals.

Under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Senegal hosted the fifth edition of the Arab Poetry Forum. Organised by the Cultural Affairs Administration of the Sharjah Department of Culture, this event took place in collaboration with the Senegalese Literary Club in the capital, Dakar, featuring 15 poets and attended by numerous academics, cultural figures, and those passionate about the Arabic language.

This forum is part of Sharjah’s cultural initiatives aimed at supporting the Arabic language, enhancing the presence of Arab poetry on the African continent, and nurturing literary talents. It serves to strengthen cultural ties between Africa and the Arab world, providing Arabic-speaking poets with the opportunity to showcase their artistic experiences and creativity.

Attendees included Taha Sheikh Abu Khalid, representative of the UAE Embassy, and Dr. Ousmane Ngoujo Tiao, Head of the Arabic Language Department at Sheikh Anta Diop University, along with university professors, researchers, students, and Arabic language enthusiasts.

The forum’s general coordinator, Mohammed Al-Hadi Saleh, expressed his gratitude to the Sharjah Department of Culture for its support of the event, highlighting the significance of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah’s backing for cultural initiatives. He affirmed that ongoing support fosters cultural collaboration between Senegal and Sharjah.

The event featured various poetic readings where poets presented samples of their literary experiences, reflecting their connection to the Arabic language and their love for poetry, characterised by a diversity of perspectives, styles, and expressions. Poetry serves as a universal language that bridges hearts, connects cultures, and provides a vast space for communication and creativity.

The poet Mohammed Jawal Al-Jawza opened the recital with his poem titled “Melodies of the Oud”, stating:

“The spirit sings in melodies of tunes,

Strings of my heart play with colours anew,

Singing from silence, a voice floods the echo,

Green blooms from the notes of magic’s view.”

Another contribution came from poet Mohammed Toure, who recited his poem “Mirror of My Soul”, saying:

“No, my love is not for another,

So bear witness to its truth, oh God.

For when I behold him, I reckon that

What I perceive through my eyes is I, not he.”