Dubai International Poetry Festival 2009 to revive the ancient tradition of 'Souk Ukadh'

posted on 25/02/2009: 49 views

As Dubai is waiting to bring the ancient literary tradition of 'Souk Ukadh' lost in time back to life again, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has consented to lead a scintillating evening of poetry recitation on 7 March as part of the activities of the Dubai International Poetry Festival 2009.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation which is organizing the Festival, will also participate in the session.

The Dubai International Poetry Festival (DIPF) 2009, an initiative by the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, will be held from 4-10 March at various locations in Dubai. It will host a series of activities ranging from poetry recitals, literary exhibitions, critique sessions and other cultural activities.

The event will host a commemorative evening in honour of the late Emirati poets Hamad Khalifa BuShihab, Sultan bin Ali Al Owais and Ahmad bin Sulayem, showcasing their rich body of work that laid the foundation of a cultural movement in the UAE during its formative years and thereafter.

To be held on March 8, at The House of Poetry in Al Shindagha, the evening will reiterate the Festival's objective to portray the diversity of old and contemporary Emirati poetry. It will include critical appreciation and discussions by critics, scholars and the audience, drawing attention to the significant contributions of the three pioneers and the enormous value of their work to humanity as a whole.

Another evening will be dedicated to the acclaimed 11th century poet Ghayath Al Deen Abu Al Fateh Omar Ebrahim Al Khayyam, widely known as Omar Khayyam, on March 5 at the House of Poetry in Al Shindagha.

An exclusive exhibition of Mohammad Saleh Al Gurg's book - ‘Translating Al Khayyam's Quartets' - will serve as the highlight of the evening.

Al Gurg's book is a sophisticated literary production that comprehensively tracks the translated versions of Khayyam's Quartets (the Rubaiyat) in English by Edward Fitzgerald, and in Arabic by the great Egyptian poet Ahmad Rami.

A book signing ceremony will follow the poetry appreciation session that will see Al Gurg personally initialing his exhaustive work of nine years. – Emirates News Agency, WAM, Gulf News

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