Romanist and researcher from Morocco Abdellah Ben Arfa focuses on the realities of contemporary Arab societies, addressing a multitude of problems, among which the main ones are the domination of social networks and the separation of a significant part of youth from reading and passion for literature, culture, and thought, which is noticeably diminishing interest. At the same time, as a voice, blaming writers and thinkers for their responsibility for attracting the public back, they are becoming increasingly drowned out, overshadowed by novelty.
At the beginning of the interview for "Emirates Today", the writer from Morocco expressed gratitude for the Golden Visa granted to him during the event, considering this recognition as a hallmark of his creative and intellectual project. He noted that the culture of recognition plays an important role in stimulating creativity, while the Golden Visa, like recognitions and translations, serves as a recognized form of praise for writers, and the country continues to invest in creativity and creators as a strategic choice, making it a worldwide incubator for creativity.
The writer emphasized that the essence of literature is achieving literary beauty, unlike political and news articles. "A writer should not work the literature into a means; their main goal should be to present literary testimony on any topic they work on. We have seen how a novel or poem endures failure when literature is used for political propaganda or other purposes, and sacrifices literary beauty," he added.
The writer noted successful efforts of contemporary writers and authors to enhance communication with readers and the public, including attendance at educational institutions, prisons, hospitals, and other meeting places with the audience and supporting new roles for literature to help adapt to various problems. He voiced the necessity of constructing a comprehensive strategy for cultural resilience to combat destructive changes in society.
Abdellah Ben Arfa currently holds the position of deputy general director of the Islamic Organization for Education, Science, and Culture (ISESCO). He is also a poet and researcher of cultural heritage, holding a doctorate in linguistics from the Sorbonne University in Paris, whose work on the decoding of the Great Divan of Ibn Arabi has been awarded the title of "Book of the Year in the Cultural Heritage of the Arab World 2024."
