Abidjan: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Republic of the Ivory Coast hosted the fourth edition of the Arabic Poetry Forum in the capital, Abidjan. The event was organised by the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture, with the participation of ten poets.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Arabic Poetry Fora in Africa align with the directives of the Ruler of Sharjah, aiming to build a bridge of communication for the Arabic language and spread it globally. They also strive to instill the language and a love of the word, providing promising opportunities to showcase poetic talent. The forum was attended by Dr. Konat© Haroun, President of the Islamic University of Africa; Dr. Diaby Moussa, Dean of the College of Arabic Language at Al Furqan Islamic University; and numerous poets, researchers, academics, writers, intellectuals, and enthusiasts of Arabic poetry.
The forum's coordinator, Dr. Bamba Issaka, introduced the event, expressing gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his significant interest in the Arabic language, both globally and particularly in Africa. He highlighted the continent's current global, cultural, and literary movement across nine countries under the umbrella of the fourth edition of the Poetry Forum. These fora provide a platform for poets worldwide to showcase their talents.
Issaka emphasized that the festival's success was due to meticulous planning and continuous follow-up by the Sharjah Department of Culture, attributing its realization to divine grace and dedicated efforts. Dr. Diaby Moussa stated at the forum that participants are united by their love of words and the magic of eloquence, describing the Arabic language as the heart's strings and history's echo. He added that poetry resides at the heart of the language, representing the anthology of the Arabs and expressing humanity in all its states.