24 September 2026 16:05 |
Last updated: 24 September 16:29 2026
Summary
The 26th Sharjah International Storytelling Forum has launched with a comprehensive scientific and cultural programme focusing on the theme of friendship in Emirati and Arab heritage, featuring various sessions and workshops for participants.
The opening day of the 26th Sharjah International Storytelling Forum saw enthusiastic attendance from individuals passionate about heritage and culture. The diverse scientific and cultural programme included contributions from a distinguished array of storytellers, researchers, and specialists from both within the UAE and abroad. Discussions centred on the significance, legacy, and presence of friendship in Emirati and Arab heritage, while also addressing related themes of heritage and collective memory.
The scholarly programme provides an intellectual backdrop to the forum’s events, with panel discussions examining friendship as a deeply rooted human and social value. These sessions explored its profound presence in oral traditions, stories, proverbs, and folk narratives, alongside the values of loyalty, affection, cooperation, and honouring commitments.
Initiating the scientific programme, the session titled “Friendship: Value and Values” was chaired by Aisha Gabash, featuring contributions from Mohammed Yasin, Dr. Fahd Hussain, Ibrahim Sand, and Dr. Mohammed Youssef. Participants delved into the concept of friendship, its significance in human life and society, and the relationships built on trust, loyalty, and support. The discussions highlighted the social, psychological, and cultural facets of friendship and the perspectives of communities on this relationship, recognising it as a value that has maintained its relevance across generations through tales and anecdotes shared by storytellers.
In the segment “Friendship in Arab Heritage (1)”, led by Mohammed Hamdan, the session included Dr. Ahmed Al-Naqbi, Mohammed Al-Balushi, Mariam Al-Zarouni, and Dr. Issa Al-Hamadi. This session showcased examples from Arab heritage that illustrated friendship through storytelling and proverbs, highlighting images of loyalty to friends, standing by them, and valuing human relationships in various circumstances. The presence of friendship in folk tales and oral literature was discussed, underscoring its significance in the Arab psyche and its role in forming social connections and reinforcing concepts of cooperation and solidarity.
The first day of the scientific programme concluded with a session entitled “Friendship in Emirati Heritage (1)”, chaired by Dr. Khalid Al-Shahhi and featuring Dr. Rashid Al-Mazrouei, Dr. Salem Al-Tuniji, Khalid Al-Handasi, and Mohammed Al-Habsi. This session presented four papers that shed light on representations of friendship in Emirati heritage, as experienced by ancestors in both land and sea settings, along with the customs, traditions, and stories intertwined with these relationships. The papers highlighted the authentic values that underpinned friendship within Emirati society, reflecting how Emiratis have consistently supported one another in both joyful and sorrowful times, affirming that friendship has become a symbol of social cohesion and unity.
Workshops
The first day also featured practical workshops, providing participants with diverse experiences that blended knowledge and application. These workshops enhanced the visibility of heritage and storytelling in the cultural scene, offering opportunities for direct interaction with presenters and the discovery of various methods for engaging with heritage elements and uncovering the stories behind them. This aligns with the forum’s aims of transmitting cultural knowledge and fostering its presence among the newer generations.