The event at the Mukhammad ben Rashid library was organized under the title "Dialogue of Cultures through Literature." At the meeting, several talented individuals gathered to discuss the importance of language in shaping literature and strengthening cultural understanding, as well as the role of writing in a foreign language in transcending cultural differences and helping writers delineate geographical and linguistic boundaries.
During the discussion, participants touched upon the influence of writing in a foreign language on the creative process of the writer and his identity, and how this ability could reach a broader audience. The speakers shared personal stories about their experiences, reasons for choosing to write in a non-native language, and also discussed the influence of this on their literary works.
Writers participating in the dialogue included: Fakhd al-Flasi, Natalia Aryas, Nidehi Jain, Maher al-Husseini, Joslin Amin, Murad Madhat, Shirin Kanader, and Rana Abi Hayla.
At the background of the meeting, the library of Mukhammad ben Rashid presented the experience of the Hungarian author Agota Kristof in writing in a foreign language. She wrote her famous works in French, despite her Hungarian roots.
The discussions of the participants concerned responses to numerous questions, including the preservation of cultural identity when writing in a foreign language, the challenges of translating specific cultural texts, and the role of translation in broadening the writer's audience. The event concluded with an invitation for attendees to participate in the signing of books by the authors, and only a few copies of their works were signed.
