Tunisia celebrates first decade of Kairouan Festival

The opening ceremony was held at the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace overlooking the Mediterranean coast in the Sidi Bou Said district of Tunis, the Tunisian capital. In attendance were His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture; Dr Tawfiq Qarira, representing the Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs; Her Excellency Amina Srarfi, Director General of the Translation Institute at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs; Saeed Rashid Al Hafiti, Chargé d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Tunisia; as well as Tunisian and Arab intellectuals, writers, academics, and a large number of poetry enthusiasts.

The festival's opening ceremony had a celebratory atmosphere, reflected in the remarks of the poets participating in the first poetry session. Before reciting their poems, they praised His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's initiative in establishing the Houses of Poetry, describing Sharjah as the "Princess of Culture," and emphasising that it has never hesitated to support this pioneering cultural project across the Arab world.

Forum for creativity

Abdullah Al Owais delivered a new cultural milestone to the audience of the Kairouan Festival of Arabic Poetry: the publication of the first edition of the first phase of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia of Sciences, Literature, Arts, and Personalities project. Al Owais stated, "No sooner had the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language project been completed than His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, brought us another cultural milestone: the publication of the first edition of the first phase of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia of Sciences, Literature, Arts, and Personalities project. The signing of this first edition is the first fruit of a project divided into four phases, involving 700 of the nation's finest scholars, working tirelessly across the Arab world. The first phase has produced 60 printed volumes, which will be available to everyone online."

In his address at the Kairouan Festival of Arabic Poetry, Al Owais said: "We are delighted to gather once again at the Kairouan Festival of Arabic Poetry for its tenth edition, within a magnificent cultural landscape that extends across Tunisia, starting from the ancient city of Kairouan and reaching all parts of the Tunisian Republic, which has welcomed the initiative to establish Houses of Poetry in the Arab world."

Al Owais pointed out that the House of Poetry in Kairouan is a shining beacon for the Houses of Poetry initiative, highlighting its contribution to the cultural landscape. He said, "This initiative came about to strengthen the presence of Arabic poetry and solidify its esteemed position in the nation's consciousness, considering it one of the most important pillars of Arab identity and an authentic source of creativity. The House of Poetry in Kairouan has been a shining beacon for this initiative, as it has provided genuine opportunities for young poets to showcase their work alongside pioneering poets who have contributed to shaping the Arab poetic memory. Thanks to this diversity, Kairouan has become a meeting place for creativity, where experiences converge and generations connect. The House has also been a welcoming destination for poets from Arab countries, making it their home and Kairouan a welcoming space that opens its doors to Arab creativity."

The Head of the Department of Culture expressed his gratitude to the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs for its fruitful cultural cooperation with Sharjah, saying, "On this auspicious occasion, we are pleased to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs for its continued support and for hosting the House of Poetry in Kairouan. This cooperation underscores the deep fraternal ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Tunisia."

The Head of the Department of Culture also conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the festival participants, saying, "I am honoured to convey to you the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wishes for your success and for the continued prosperity and brilliance of the Arab cultural scene."

Radiant presence

Jamila Al Majri began by welcoming the attendees, saying: "As we gather today to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the House of Poetry in Kairouan, we are delighted to extend our highest greetings and deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, whose presence among us is a testament to his remarkable achievements. We are gathered here today thanks to His Highness's pioneering and historic initiative: the establishment of Houses of Poetry throughout the Arab world. We congratulate His Highness on the realisation of the noble goals of his initiative, and the success of these Houses, stretching from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean, is a clear indication of its success."

Al Majri added: "Ten years of continuous and diligent work, with increasing achievements and growing popularity among poets, intellectuals, and distinguished figures, and a vibrant presence on the Arab cultural scene, have transformed the Houses of Poetry into shining beacons, a sought-after destination attracting ever-increasing numbers. They have successfully established the noble principles envisioned by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, aimed at elevating the Arabic language and solidifying the pursuit of protecting our Arab identity, of which poetry is a vital component. The House of Poetry in Kairouan offers some testament to its sincere commitment to fulfilling His Highness's objectives in establishing the Houses of Poetry. We are pleased to share with His Highness the good news of its success, promising further dedicated and enthusiastic work to attract more visitors to our esteemed institution, nurture talents, develop experiences, and expand its reach. May all the Houses of Poetry continue to shine, attracting poets and serving and establishing a foundation for the advancement of Arabic poetry throughout history. Our gratitude extends to His Highness and the Department of Culture, which supports and accompanies us every step of the way. 

The director of the House of Poetry in Kairouan expressed her gratitude to the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, saying, "We thank the Ministry for believing in this project and for its unwavering support and encouragement from the outset. We especially thank Her Excellency Amina Srarfi, who has consistently encouraged the House of Poetry and closely monitored its activities." The director of the House of Poetry in Kairouan presented a comprehensive overview of the House's history since its founding, noting that it has organized over 450 cultural events with the participation of approximately 1,300 artists from Tunisia and various Arab countries. She also highlighted that this year's activities included 44 cultural events with the participation of 140 artists.

Literary and aesthetic fruits

Dr Tawfiq Qarira delivered a speech on behalf of Her Excellency Amina Srarfi, Minister of Cultural Affairs, who began by praising the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. She expressed her deep belief in the cultural and civilisational project he leads, emphasising that his support has contributed to the flourishing of the House of Poetry in Kairouan, whose fruits are not only literary and critical but also intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural. She noted that Tunisia is always open to Sharjah's initiatives.

Srarfi congratulated the House of Poetry in Kairouan on its 10th anniversary, expressing her gratitude for every sincere effort to raise the banner of culture. In Tunisia, particularly poetry, and in supporting the efforts of poets and writers.

In her speech, the Minister of Culture praised the efforts of the House of Poetry in Kairouan over the past decade in the Tunisian cultural movement, and its continuous support for poets and critics from Tunisia and various Arab countries. She noted that the House has succeeded in creating a vibrant and tireless creative movement, and in activating the pulse of cultural life in Kairouan.

She added, "The success of the House of Poetry will grow even greater as we embark on its second decade, which will begin in the near future." It is a shared and joyous feeling to celebrate the birth of the House of Poetry and await its soaring achievements, all hoping that the House of Poetry will continue its open-door policy, welcoming diverse experiences from the regions surrounding Kairouan, from east to west and south. The Tunisian Minister of Culture stated, "With loyalty to poetry, you have built this beautiful edifice, whose birth we celebrate today, coming from both our eastern and western corners. May you be blessed with its brilliance, and may the brilliance endure, and may the written word rejoice in its meter and rhyme."

Readings

Continuing the House of Poetry's tradition of involving its young poets in poetry readings, the first sessions featured four emerging talents across two sessions: Ratel Fadda (7 years old), Yaqin Fadda (13 years old), Amina Qizani (10 years old), and Maryam Jawadi (13 years old). Their readings were met with remarkable audience engagement, reflecting the significant interest in encouraging and nurturing young poetic voices from their earliest beginnings. The first session also featured the poets: Moncef Mezghani, Youssef Rezouga, Souf Obeid, and Khadija Al-Tayeb (Algeria), Fawzia Al-Alawi, and Hud Al-Amani (Libya) presented a diverse range of readings, encompassing the emotional, the humanistic, and the patriotic, creating a distinctive and creative tableau.

Publications and certificates

The festival featured an exhibition of publications from the Sharjah Department of Culture and the House of Poetry in Kairouan, including: Sharjah Cultural Magazine, Al-Rafid Magazine, Al-Qawafi Magazine, Al-Masrah Magazine, and a number of works by Tunisian and Arab intellectuals. The exhibition also included a display of certificates and commemorative shields awarded to the House of Poetry in Kairouan by local cultural institutions in recognition of the fruitful cultural cooperation and the distinctive literary activity the House has made on the Tunisian cultural scene over the past years.

Documentation

Attendees watched a video documenting the most prominent milestones of the House of Poetry in Kairouan over the past decade. The footage showcased the House's annual achievements for 2025, highlighting the various events, including evenings of poetry, seminars, panel discussions, and artistic performances, allowing the audience to explore the daily work that continues throughout the year, both within and outside the House.

Ennejma Ezzahra

Ennejma Ezzahra (Star of Venus), also known as the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace or the Baron d'Erlanger Palace, is one of the most prominent landmarks The architectural heritage of Tunisia, and its architecture combines the characteristics of Tunisian architecture.

The palace, with its authentic architectural and decorative elements reminiscent of Andalusian art, was built by Baron d'Erlanger between 1912 and 1922, amidst a vast garden overlooking the Gulf of Tunis from the Sidi Bou Said hill. The Ennejma Ezzahra Palace houses the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music.