In a vibrant celebration of African poetry, the event titled “القصائد الأفريقية تصدح في بيت الشعر بالشارقة” recently took place at the House of Poetry in Sharjah. This evening showcased the beauty and depth of African verses, featuring renowned poets who captivated an audience of poetry enthusiasts. Highlighting the cultural connections between Africa and the Arab world, the event offered insights into the unique poetic expressions that define these two rich literary traditions.
As part of the Tuesday Forum, which regularly honors the aesthetics of Arabic poetry, the House of Poetry hosted a special evening filled with expressive verses. The event featured Sudanese poet Mazen Salah al-Din and Gambian poet Karamba Dafi, a student at Al Qasimia University. The gathering was attended by poet Muhammad Abdullah Al-Breiki, director of the House, along with numerous critics, poets, and poetry lovers, who filled the theater with their enthusiasm and applause.
The evening was introduced by poet Mustafa Al-Hafnawi, who extended a warm welcome to attendees and expressed deep gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and ruler of Sharjah, for his noble support of cultural and artistic endeavors in the UAE and the Arab world. He praised the role of the House of Poetry in Sharjah, stating, “We gather here tonight in this house to build a strong bridge of beauty and wonder that will live on forever in this place. We celebrate poetry, our eternal companion, our nourishment and solace, to give it the life it deserves and to paint a unique picture of dreams, beauty, and clarity in our minds.”
Opening the poetic readings, Dr. Mazen Salah al-Din expressed emotions and the psychological relationship that connects the poet with poetry in his intricate verses. In his poem “A Child Lulled by Poetry,” he writes:
أخفاهُ في ورقِ الحياةِ فأجهدهْ
لا شىء في العهدِ القديمِ ليُنجدهْ
قدماهُ والبحرُ العصِيُّ خريطةٌ
تنهيدةٌ للوحي حينَ تنهَّدهْ
ورِثته زنبقةٌ فباحَ بعطره
و رَثته بلقيسُ فأطلقَ هدهدهْ
أهدته بسمتُهُ الجليلةُ سوسناً
طفلاً تحامى بالقصيدِ فهدهدهْ
In another poignant piece titled “They Offered You Water,” he delves into the turmoil of poets and their existential struggles:
الشَاعِرونَ دموعهم أحلامهم
أرواحُهُم تنْدَسُّ فِي الكلِماتِ
متأرجِحُونَ على البيانِ يضُمُّهم
كفنُ السُكُونِ وشُعلةُ الحيواتِ
ما واعدُوكَ الرمزَ إلَّا وامتطوا
خيلَ الجُمُوحِ لحُرمةِ المِيقاتِ
قدْ أوردُوكَ المَاءَ بُغْيَ توضُّؤٍ
وتيمَّموا مِنْ تُربةِ المَأسَاةِ
Closing the evening, Karamba Dafi, a student from Al Qasimia University hailing from the beautiful landscapes of Africa, recited a poem in praise of the Prophet Muhammad titled “The Greatest Blessing.” His verses honored the Prophet’s virtues, with lines reading:
النعمة الكبرى بأنك رحمَةٌ
قد أسديتْ للعالمين تَكَـرُّما
فأتيت تسقي الكونَ غَيْثًا من هدى
من قبلِ فـجْرِكَ عـمّه جدْبُ العَمى
حتـى غـدا بين البقاع جداولٌ
تـنسابُ أمــواهُ الـهدايةِ “زَمـزَما”
Additionally, the poet shared another piece expressing his affection for the UAE, blending admiration with heartfelt emotion, as captured in lines that reflect his delicate feelings:
فِـي بَـحْرِ حُــبّكِ لاَ أَخْشَى من الغَرقِ
ولـــيسَ حُــبّكِ إلا سُــلــوةَ الــقَــلِــقِ
كـحـائِــرٍ فِـي فـضاء الــهــمّ ما اتجهت
عـيْــنــاهُ إلاّ إلــى لُقْــياكِ فِــي الطرقِ
ومُــنْذ صــادفْـتُ فِـيـكِ الحلْمَ عانقني
بِـشْـــرٌ مــعَــانَـــقـــةَ الأحْــبابِ لِلـوَمَقِ
At the evening’s end, poet Muhammad Al-Breiki recognized the participating poets and the event’s presenter, celebrating the shared love for poetry and cultural exchange. The evening exemplified how القصائد الأفريقية تصدح في بيت الشعر بالشارقة not only honors poetic traditions but also fosters connections that transcend geographical distances.