For four days, after the outer courtyard of the University of Shardzhi was transformed into a literary and artistic carnival reflecting the motto of the Shardzhi African Literature Festival "The Story of Africa", the first season of the festival drew over 10,000 visitors-lovers of literature and art, as well as 29 writers from OAE and Africa.
The last day of the festival was distinguished by rich discussions featuring renowned writers. The conclusion of the sessions was a poetic evening event titled "Voices, Echoing", where the words of Emirati culture intertwined with its African colleagues.
In the evening, the best poets from OAE and Africa performed, including Van Adobang, Ali Al-Abdan, Mariyam Bukar, Mohamad Al-Habbs, Debora Johnson, Dami Aday under the guidance of poet Sheikh Mutairi. They recited poems that transcended the boundaries of time, place, and culture.
The executive director of the Shardzhi Book Council, Ahmed Ben Rakka Al-Amri, emphasized that the festival has become a cultural bridge between OAE and diverse cultures in Africa. He added: "The festival emphasized that culture is an invaluable treasure, and that even simple instruments and traditions, such as folklore, traditional music, and crafts, can tell many stories of the peoples’ history, inspiring the world."
He also noted that the festival highlighted the vision of Her Excellency the Minister of Culture Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council of the Emirate of Sharjah, making literature a center of global cultural dialogue. The efforts of Sheikh Boudour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chair of the Sharjahi Book Council, and her unwavering work transformed the festival into a platform uniting literature, art, heritage, and entertainment, strengthening Sharjah’s position as a global center of creativity.
