Moroccan Poets Festival Kicks Off in Tetouan with 50 Participants

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

The city of Tetouan, Morocco, hosted the grand opening of the seventh Moroccan Poets Festival on Friday, under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, alongside His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture in collaboration with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the three-day festival showcases over 50 poets, intellectuals, critics, and artists from Morocco.

The opening event took place at Teatro Español in Tetouan’s heart, welcoming numerous cultural and government dignitaries, including Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Sharjah Department of Culture, and Zahour Amhaouch, the Regional Director of Culture representing the Moroccan Minister, along with Abdelrazak El Mansouri, the Governor of Tetouan Province.

The festival is expected to attract writers, academics, university students, and poetry enthusiasts from various regions of Morocco.

It commenced with the screening of a documentary titled “Ten Unforgettable Years,” showcasing the milestones and cultural initiatives of the House of Poetry in Tetouan since its inception.

Poet Mukhlis Al-Saghir lauded the Houses of Poetry initiative backed by Sharjah’s Ruler, highlighting its significance as a vital cultural platform across the Arab realm. He noted that the Tetouan festival has successfully attracted numerous poets over the years, fostering Moroccan poetry and artistic expression.

Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir emphasized the festival’s representation of the long-standing cultural ties between the UAE and Morocco. He remarked on the pivotal role that poetry houses now play within the Arab region in promoting literary talent, facilitating cultural exchange, and preserving the essence of Arabic poetry in contemporary culture.

He added that the House of Poetry in Tetouan has become an exemplary model through its dynamic literary programs that connect poets, writers, and critics.

Al Qasir also noted that this seventh edition of the festival showcases the legacy of the cultural initiative, celebrating the diverse and rich fabric of Moroccan poetry through various generations.

Zahour Amhaouch, representing the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, characterized the festival as a premier poetry gathering in Morocco, reflecting a decade of cultural partnership between Moroccan entities and the Sharjah Department of Culture.

During the ceremony, the House of Poetry in Tetouan honored poet and academic Allal El Hajjam alongside academic Fatima Tahtah for their invaluable contributions to Moroccan and Arab cultural spheres.

The festival’s agenda also featured poetry recitals by Moroccan poets, delving into themes of identity, life experiences, and societal challenges.

Additionally, the House of Poetry announced the winners for the seventh edition of the First Collection Award for Young Poets, designed to bolster the emerging literary voices, with the winning poetry collections to be published by the House of Poetry.

Moreover, honorees from the “Regional Competition for Pioneers of the Arabic Language” were acknowledged to inspire Arabic language proficiency and creative writing among youth.

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