SHARJAH – In observing its premier status as Sao Paulo International Book Fair’s first-ever guest of honour, at its 25th edition which runs from August 3 to 12, Sharjah will be putting its best foot forward in showcasing the gems of Emirati culture, with a special focus on their achievements in the past four decades.
Sharjah’s pavilion at the book biennial will become a vibrant platform for a series of engaging discussions and exchanges featuring local poetry, novels and other cultural assets of the Emirates. A large delegation from Sharjah will be headed by Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, and include 20 Emirati authors and publishers, and 15 cultural entities.
The Sharjah delegation to Sao Paulo will comprise leading cultural, educational and academic entities including the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Emirates Writers Union (EWU), Emirates Publishers Association (EPA), Sharjah Department of Culture and Information (DoCI), Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), Dr Sultan Al-Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC), UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), Knowledge without Borders (KwB), 1001 Titles initiative, Al Qasimi Publications, Kalimat Group, NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, Sharjah Business Women Council and the American University of Sharjah.
Sharjah’s participation – the largest-of-its-kind by an Arab country – at one of the key cultural events in South America, will provide Sao Paulo’s population of 21 million inhabitants with the opportunity to explore Emirati art shows including traditional songs and traditional dances by the Sharjah National Music Band, which will tour the city.
Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi said: “Sharjah’s cultural achievements reflect the futuristic vision and pioneering efforts of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. Having taken on the position of the UAE’s cultural capital, Sharjah considers strengthening relationships with countries worldwide and opening new avenues for dialogue and cross-cultural collaboration as one of its top responsibilities. The selection of Sharjah as Sao Paulo Book Biennial’s first guest of honour is yet another achievement for Sharjah and a new era of cooperation with Brazil and Latin America.”
For his part, Ahmed Al Ameri said: “Through its cultural programme in Sao Paulo, Sharjah aims to introduce the finer details of the UAE’s cultural and social fabric and the Arab and Islamic culture to a completely different community. Sharjah Book Authority has carefully crafted a cultural programme, which will sufficiently represent our authentic heritage through a diversity of events including oriental music, poetry, novel, and crafts.
“Thanks to the vision and directives of the Ruler of Sharjah, the emirate is providing Portuguese speaking people and other cultures in South America with the opportunity to explore the UAE local culture and heritage, and the corresponding Arab and Islamic culture. It has a firm belief that knowledge, books, and creativity are the common ground which brings together people from around the world, furthers peace and love and enhances dialogue and cross-cultural communication between the world’s nations.”
Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director-General of the Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC), said: “Sharjah’s selection as Guest of Honour at the Sao Paulo International Book Fair communicates an important message to the world, highlighting Sharjah as a cultural hub of the region. The selection exemplifies the vision of His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah who has been relentless in his promotion of the role of knowledge and books as an open platform to enhance cross-cultural dialogue and communication between civilizations.”
Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Information (DoCI), said: “The DoCI is honoured and delighted to be part of the Sharjah delegation to Sao Paulo. Our participation is guided by the vision of Dr Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi who has set a unique precedent, not just in the UAE but the region, of how to create an Arab cultural presence around the world in the most meticulous and creative ways.”
For his part, Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), observed: “Our participation aims to further our Ruler’s leading cultural vision, which seeks to reinforce intercultural dialogue around the world and promote our honourable history and authentic heritage to Latin audiences.”
On the importance of representing Sharjah and UAE in Brazil, Habib Al Sayegh, Secretary-General of Arab Writers Union (AWU) and Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union (EWU), said: “Sharjah’s participation at the Sao Paulo International Book Fair as its guest of honour highlights the emirate’s global cultural presence that has been established under the leadership of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. After a successful participation in France through a prominent presence at the Paris Book Fair, Sharjah will once again hold the UAE’s flag high in Brazil.”
Sharjah’s Cultural Programme
The first day of the event will see a poetry reading themed ‘Poetry Spectra’, comprising poet Dr Habib Al-Sayegh, and poet Talal Salem, and is moderated by poet and journalist Sheikha Al-Mutairi. In the same day, and all throughout the fair, Oud player Tarish Saeed Al Hashimi will play a selection of music-themed ‘Music of the Soul’.
The first day of the event also includes a seminar themed ‘The Year of Zayed’, moderated by writer and journalist Khalid Bin Qiqa. Researchers, Dr Hamad Bin Sarai, Professor of Old History at the United Arab Emirates University, and Saeed Hamdan, Director of Programme Management in the National Library Sector, the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, will highlight the efforts of the late founding father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, who laid the foundations of unity and glory and helped cement the UAE’s leading position among the world’s modern countries.
On the second day of the fair, the Sharjah Pavilion will host a poetry reading themed ‘The Glow of Poems’, comprising two Emirati poets Salha Ghabish and Sheikha Al-Mutairi, and moderated by Talal Salem. Rashid Al Kous, Mohamed Bin Dakheen, and Dr Alyazia Khalifa will participate in a seminar titled ‘The Success of The UAE Publishing Market Around the World’ to discuss the possibility of developing common publishing ethics between world countries and the publishing standards in UAE and Brazil.
During a seminar moderated by Asma Al-Zarouni under the title ‘Modern Novel Landscape’, Nasser Al Dhaheri, an Emirati writer and journalist and Sultan Al Amimi, a poet and novelist will discuss the artistic and narrative potential that enabled contemporary novels to attain a leading position in the literary landscape and managed to outrank other literary genres in the Arab world and at the global level, as well as their role in the cross-border transfer of cultural experiences and bringing different peoples and civilisations closer together.
