The first "African Literature Festival in Sharjah" will take place from the 24th to the 27th of this month at "Sharjah City" and will feature eight panel discussions dedicated to selected books, three seminars, and 12 masterclasses for children, additionally including musical performances and street presentations that reflect the richness of African culture.
At the center of the festival, organized by the Sharjah Book Council under the theme "The History of Africa," the goal is to strengthen constructive dialogue and cultural exchange between the Arab world and Africa, familiarizing residents and visitors of all nationalities with the literary beauty of Africa, and also highlighting the key role played by African literature, enriching the global cultural landscape, while simultaneously reinforcing Sharjah's position as a global cultural center and a hub for intercultural communication.
During the four days of the festival, which brings together 29 African and Emirati writers, including Nobel Prize laureates in literature such as Abdulrazak Gurnah and Wole Soyinka, numerous events facilitating interaction between the public and leading writers and artists from the African continent will be held. The program will begin with a series of panel discussions titled "Voices of Books," where a group of authors will be showcased, discussing various themes.
The festival will offer 12 interactive masterclasses for children, including working with African ornaments, pottery, the depiction of African tales on stones, and a masterclass on African folklore subjects that inspire children and give them the opportunity to explore artistic crafts and techniques of African heritage.
The festival will also present four culinary masterclasses for connoisseurs of cuisine and culture with the participation of chef Lillian Illida and Nigerian writers Ozoz Sokoe and Ana Odubanag. Three inspiring seminars will be dedicated to African customs and traditions, as well as literary techniques and subjects, inviting prominent speakers such as writers from Guinea Shirley Nethomi, Nigerian writer Wole Talabi, and Zimbabwean writer Tendai Huchu.
Meanwhile, Kenyan writer and historian Mara Menesis will hold a reading session on the second day of the festival, as well as a session featuring Emirati writer and poet Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, writers from Kinanau Phili, and lawyer from Nigeria Ifeomy Eiseri, a member of the Nigerian advocacy council.
The festival will conclude with an evening of poetry titled "Free Voices," under the auspices of Emirati poetry Sheikh Al-Mateeri, featuring six talented poets from the Emirates and various African countries who will share their creative experiences, feelings, and visions with the audience, contributing to intercultural dialogue, collective human unity, and shared cultural heritage, transcending boundaries.
