Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival Concludes Its Inaugural Edition Successfully
The first edition of the Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, successfully concluded on October 16th. The festival took place from October 12th to 15th, 2023, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), organized by the Festival Management and Cultural Heritage Programs Committee in collaboration with the Emirates Heritage Club.
With the theme "Poetry Inspires Us," the festival brought together over 1,000 poets, writers, and researchers. Additionally, more than 500 poets, both male and female, participated in the program's Million's Poet competition as part of the festival's events.
The festival attracted over 15,000 visitors who had the opportunity to explore prominent poets in the Arab world through numerous poetry sessions, discussions, artistic performances, traditional shows, and interactive activities. Visitors were also able to engage directly with the poets through dedicated platforms.
Running concurrently with the festival, the Abu Dhabi Poetry Conference spanned three days. The conference featured a variety of scientific and academic research presentations, with each day consisting of two sessions, each with three participants. These sessions attracted a large and diverse audience, underscoring the academic significance of the conference. Researchers presented valuable insights and ideas related to Arabic poetry in general and Nabati poetry in particular.
The scientific committee of the Abu Dhabi Poetry Conference emphasized the importance of exploring new avenues to enrich the cultural and heritage movement. They called for extending its scope to serve as a platform for poetry and poets while encouraging talented individuals to develop creative content through in-depth academic studies marked by seriousness and objectivity.
The committee also highlighted the significance of researching Nabati and colloquial Arabic poetry, advocating for the collection and design of initiatives and intellectual programs that stimulate young researchers to explore new dimensions to contribute to the poetic landscape, thereby promoting societal values. They emphasized the global relevance of thought and human heritage as a nurturing ground for everyone to draw from in terms of innovative initiatives and ideas.
The scientific committee further stressed the importance of research collaboration with international universities, reputable scientific research centers, and peer-reviewed academic journals to engage in serious and objective studies of the Emirati heritage. The goal is to elevate it from the local to the global level, making it a source of literary and cultural reference.
The committee underscored the uniqueness of Emirati Nabati poetry as it represents a rich national identity and ensures the sustainability of poetic heritage, preserving it for future generations without deterioration. They emphasized the importance of digitalization to serve Nabati poetry and facilitate its dissemination. Additionally, they stressed the need to design programs and initiatives for expatriate communities within the UAE to integrate them and acquaint them with the Emirati heritage.
The Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival also showcased Emirati folk arts, presenting them distinctively to educate visitors about the various forms of folk art rooted in the Emirati Arab heritage. The aim was to sustain this authentic heritage in the hearts and minds of current and future generations.
The festival also provided a unique educational platform for visitors to learn about the evolution of Arabic poetry through the "Poetry Path" platform, featuring nine stations that started from Souk Okaz and ended at the Abu Dhabi Center for Poetry and Literature. The festival also highlighted the efforts made by the Festival Management and Cultural Heritage Programs Committee, including the Million's Poet, the Prince of Poets, and Al-Mankous competitions.
Moreover, the festival featured poetry evenings with the participation of various poets who recited expressive poems on diverse themes. This contributed to enriching the cultural and literary scene in the region and enhancing cultural and artistic interaction between poets and the audience.
To promote exceptional experiences that align with sustainability in thought and culture, several cultural institutions, literary associations, and publishing houses from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the wider Arab world focused on classical and Nabati Arabic poetry in the festival.
The festival did not forget the youngest visitors, offering them various programs and activities with educational messages that aim to connect the new generation with their cultural heritage, instilling in them the beautiful and noble values and concepts that enhance their sense of belonging to the homeland.