Bodour Al Qasimi inaugurates SFAL 2026

January 15, 2026 / 2:04 PM

Sharjah24: Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), inaugurated the second edition of the Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL) at Sharjah University City on Wednesday, under the theme ‘The African Way’. The five-day festival, running from January 14-18, was inaugurated by the SBA Chairperson in the presence of Her Excellency Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar and Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF).

During the opening ceremony, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi honoured the acclaimed Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga with SFAL’s Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award, recognising her literary and intellectual journey and her significant contribution to African and world literature.

The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA; His Excellency Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture; and a number of senior officials and cultural figures. The ceremony was opened by a performance from the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA), presenting a vibrant blend of song and dance that reflected Africa’s spirit, rhythm, and living memory. The performance conveyed messages of hope, love, and solidarity rooted in the community traditions of South Africa’s Limpopo province.

Following the opening ceremony, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi toured the festival venue, exploring the literary and cultural offerings. During her tour, she met participating writers, publishers and guests, and also visited the handicrafts pavilions and the children’s workshops.

29 African and Emirati writers

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), SFAL 2026 brings together 20 African writers and 9 Emirati authors to lead a programme that will spotlight contemporary African literature, its evolving narratives and emerging trends, while strengthening cultural exchange between Africa and the Arab world.

SFAL 2026 offers a rich programme of literary and creative activations, including 20 panel discussions exploring the present and future of African literature, five poetry evenings, 20 children’s workshops, 10 live culinary sessions, interactive meetups, book signings, and artistic and musical performances. This edition places a special focus on literary experiences from Zanzibar, Ethiopia and South Africa, highlighting their dynamic literary traditions, the growth of their publishing sectors, and their linguistic and cultural diversity, which reflects the richness of African literature.

Ties grounded in knowledge, literature and thought

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri affirmed that SFAL embodies a firmly rooted cultural vision led by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who has written extensively about Africa and the Arab presence on the continent, which dates back hundreds of years. He noted that the opening of the festival’s second edition also marks a new chapter in UAE–Africa relations, anchored in knowledge, literature and intellectual exchange.

Al Ameri added: “Sharjah has long been connected to Africa through books, markets, expeditions and language. Today, under the leadership and guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, this connection is renewed through literature and thought. The festival is a living expression of the depth of UAE-Africa ties and offers an opportunity to rediscover them in a future-driven, contemporary way.”

Literature carries memory, identity, and the possibilities of tomorrow

Her Excellency Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar and Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of ZMBF, said: “Africa’s stories are not only written in books; they are woven into our landscapes, our crafts, our songs, and our ways of life. Literature, like heritage, carries memory, identity, and possibilities for the future.”

Enhancement of cross-cultural connections

His Excellency Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, thanked the UAE for its warm welcome and conveyed greetings from President Cyril Ramaphosa to Sharjah and the festival audience.

He praised SFAL as a platform for celebrating African literature, culture, and dialogue, emphasising that supporting emerging voices and access to books and education is key to building resilient societies.

He urged stronger cultural ties, saying: “Let us leave this gathering more committed to dialogue, creativity, solidarity, and strengthening ties among literary communities in the UAE, South Africa, and the world.”

A global African voice

Recipient of the Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award, Tsitsi Dangarembga is widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary voices in African and world literature. The impact of the Zimbabwean writer and filmmaker on African literature is evident in her celebrated trilogy, Nervous Conditions, a landmark work offering profound insights into colonialism, identity and education in Africa. The novel won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for the Africa Region and was included in the BBC’s list of 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. Her novel, This Mournable Body, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Beyond her writing, Dangarembga’s contributions as a filmmaker and cultural activist have further consolidated her standing as an influential voice in African literature and thought.