Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Moroccan Poets Festival has officially commenced its seventh edition in Tetouan, Morocco, under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Scheduled over three days, the festival is being organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture in collaboration with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication. This year's event unites more than 50 distinguished Moroccan poets, critics, intellectuals, and artists.
The opening ceremony took place at Teatro Español in the heart of Tetouan, attended by various cultural and government dignitaries, including Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Sharjah Department of Culture, Zahour Amhaouch, Regional Director of Culture and representative of the Moroccan Minister, as well as Abdelrazak El Mansouri, the Governor of Tetouan Province.
The festival also welcomed a diverse audience, including writers, scholars, university students, and poetry enthusiasts from all over Morocco.
The inaugural event featured a documentary titled “Ten Unforgettable Years,” showcasing the significant cultural accomplishments of the House of Poetry in Tetouan since its inception.
Poet Mukhlis Al-Saghir highlighted the House of Poetry initiative favored by the Sharjah Ruler, emphasizing its critical role in the Arab cultural landscape. He remarked that the Tetouan festival has been a home for countless poets, continuing to elevate Moroccan poetry and creative expression.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir articulated that the festival symbolizes the profound cultural and historical connections between the UAE and Morocco. He observed that poetry houses across the Arab region are pivotal in nurturing literary talent, promoting cross-cultural exchange, and safeguarding Arabic poetry within contemporary cultural practices.
Al Qasir also expressed that this festival edition signifies the ongoing cultural endeavors while celebrating the variety and richness intrinsic to Moroccan poetry throughout generations.
Representing the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Zahour Amhaouch praised the festival as one of the premier poetry events in Morocco. She highlighted a decade of fruitful cultural collaboration between Moroccan authorities and the Sharjah Department of Culture.
During the ceremony, the House of Poetry in Tetouan honored poet and academic Allal El Hajjam and scholar Fatima Tahtah for their outstanding contributions to the Moroccan and Arab cultural sphere.
The festival's program also included readings by Moroccan poets addressing themes of identity, human experiences, and societal issues.
Moreover, the House of Poetry announced the recipients of the First Collection Award for Young Poets, an initiative designed to foster emerging literary talent. The winning collections will undergo publication by the House of Poetry.
Winners of the “Regional Competition for Pioneers of the Arabic Language” were also recognized, encouraging proficiency in Arabic and creative writing among youth.
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