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At its new stop, the forum settled in the Jordanian capital Amman, where the 26th edition was held, celebrating four Jordanian creatives: translator Dr Mohammed Asfour, critic Dr Nayef Al Ajlouni, writer and heritage researcher Dr Ahmad Sharif Al Zoubi, and poet Mariam Al Saifi.
The forum comes in implementation of the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to honour literary figures who have contributed to serving contemporary Arab culture. This is the sixth time the forum has been held in Jordan, after it previously honoured a group of intellectuals in earlier editions.
Amid celebratory atmospheres marked by official, cultural and family presence, the forum was held at the National Library Department in Amman, attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Dr Nidal Al Ayasrah, Secretary-General of the Jordanian Ministry of Culture, on behalf of the Jordanian Minister of Culture Mustafa Al Rawashdeh; Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Cultural Affairs at the Sharjah Department of Culture; and Hamad Al Matrooshi, Chargé d’Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Jordan, as well as a large number of Jordanian and Arab writers, thinkers, intellectuals and those interested in cultural affairs.
The atmosphere of the forum witnessed an intensive presence of the families of the honourees, including sons and grandchildren, expressing their joy and pride in this honour, in a human scene that reflected the family’s unity around the honouree.
The programme segments were presented by the Jordanian poet Iman Al Hadaidi, who noted in her speech the prominent cultural role played by Sharjah at the level of the Arab world and the globe, stressing that the Cultural Honouring Forum is part of a wider cultural project, namely the Sharjah cultural project.
Abdullah Al Owais conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to the honourees of this edition, and also conveyed his Highness’s regards and wishes for their success and prosperity.
The Chairman of the Department of Culture delivered a speech in which he emphasised at the beginning that the forum has consolidated its presence in the Arab cultural scene, until it has become a luminous beacon and a high platform for celebrating creative wordsmiths and honouring intellectual figures who have devoted themselves to Arab culture, making creativity a message and knowledge a path towards elevating humanity.
He pointed out that this “blessed gathering is an eloquent expression of the fruitful cooperation between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Jordanian Ministry of Culture, stemming from solid fraternal ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, under the patronage of the wise leadership in both countries.”
Dr Nidal Al Ayasrah delivered the speech of His Excellency Mustafa Al Rawashdeh, where he began by welcoming the guests from the Sharjah Department of Culture, as well as the honourees, affirming that the forum reminds us of creative minds and provides an opportunity to review their achievements through a generous gesture and continuous patronage from His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
He said: “Here, we extend thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his patronage and support of a series of cultural events concerned with Arab civilisation, especially the Arabic language and Arabic poetry, particularly the initiative of Poetry Houses, from which Jordan has received a significant share.”
Dr Nayef Al Ajlouni delivered the speech on behalf of the honourees, saying:
“I am pleased, both personally and on behalf of my two respected colleagues and my respected female colleague among the honoured figures, at this Jordanian stop of the 26th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum, to express my deep thanks and sincere appreciation to the sponsor of this honour, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.”
He said that Sharjah’s Department of Culture’s celebration of distinguished intellectual and creative achievements across the Arab world, and its continuous contribution to serving contemporary Arab culture, goes beyond personal honouring to broader intellectual horizons with national and human dimensions.
He added: “In the horizon of modernity of this contemporary literary and intellectual discourse, the role of Arab writers and intellectuals is not limited to renewing forms and styles, but extends to re-examining the deep structures of consciousness and language together.”
Dr Mohammed Asfour is an academic, researcher, translator and critic. He was born in 1940 and obtained his PhD in English literature from Indiana University in 1973. He has held several academic and scientific positions and has received a number of literary awards in the field of translation.
Dr Nayef Al Ajlouni is a professor of modern literature and criticism. He was born in 1946 and holds a PhD in philosophy in modern Arabic literature and comparative literature from the University of Pennsylvania. He has numerous research papers and studies in modern Arabic poetry and comparative literature.
Dr Ahmad Sharif Al Zoubi has also made clear contributions in the field of children’s literature, and as a researcher and author in the field of folk heritage. He was born in 1947 and holds an academic degree in education, curricula and teaching methods. He has publications issued by the Ministry of Culture, most notably the Encyclopedia of Jordanian Folk Heritage, as well as studies in the field of dialect and Jordanian folk songs.
As for the poet Mariam Al Saifi, she was born in 1945 in Jerusalem. She holds a diploma in education from Kuwait University in 1968. She is a member of the Jordanian Writers Association and the Arab Writers Union. She has participated in numerous local and Arab events, and has published several poetry collections, such as “Prayer of the Ears of Grain” and “Clusters in Baskets of Light”. Her poetry has also been translated into several foreign languages.
At the end of the ceremony, Abdullah Al Owais and Mohammed Al Qasir, accompanied by Hamad Al Matrooshi and Nidal Al Ayasrah, presented certificates of appreciation to the four honourees. The certificates bore the signature of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, in recognition of their literary and intellectual efforts in the Arab cultural scene.
The audience watched a documentary presentation summarising the biographical and creative journeys of the four honourees, with scenes moving through the careers of the creators who left a clear mark on the Arab cultural scene. The audience had the opportunity to learn about the four names from various cultural and personal aspects.
The honouring ceremony was accompanied by an exhibition featuring a number of publications from the Sharjah Department of Culture. These included: Sharjah Cultural Magazine, Al Rafid Magazine, Al Qawafi Magazine, Theatre Magazine, Al Heera from Sharjah Magazine, and a number of other literary works across various fields. The exhibition witnessed a large turnout from the public who came to obtain the publications and explore a wide range of cultural titles.
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