Tetouan Celebrates the Launch of the Sixth Edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival

Tetouan Celebrates the Launch of the Sixth Edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival

Al Owais: The House of Poetry in Tetouan is a beacon of creativity and a gathering place for poets
Mehdi Bensaid: We highly value the initiative of the Ruler of Sharjah in establishing Houses of Poetry

Morocco – Tetouan
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the city of Tetouan in northern Morocco celebrated the launch of the sixth edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival. The event is organized by the Department of Culture in Sharjah in collaboration with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and spans three days, featuring more than 40 Moroccan poets, intellectuals, and artists.

The opening ceremony was held at the Espanol Theater in the center of Tetouan, in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department; Abdel Razaq Al Mansouri, Governor of Tetouan Province; and Zuhour Amahouche, Regional Director of Culture, representing the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mahdi Bensaïd, along with a large audience of writers, intellectuals, university students, and poetry lovers.

The ceremony was hosted by poet and director of the House of Poetry in Tetouan, Mokhles Al Saghir, who welcomed the attendees and emphasized that the Houses of Poetry have become a major landmark in the Arab cultural landscape thanks to the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah. He highlighted that the festival gathers some of Morocco’s most prominent poetic voices, with hundreds of poets participating over the years.

Al Owais began his speech by highlighting poetry’s pioneering role in expressing identity and cultural values, saying:
A new edition of the Tetouan Festival for Moroccan Poets is upon us, and we are filled with renewed excitement and pride for this distinguished cultural event, which affirms the leading role of poetry in expressing rich cultural identity and values. The House of Poetry in Tetouan has devoted its efforts to gathering Moroccan poets, providing a platform where both emerging and established poets share their voices, enriching this beloved country with poetic fragrance and creativity.

Regarding the activities of the House of Poetry in Tetouan, Al Owais added:
The House continues to shine from the historic city of Tetouan, a beacon of creativity and a meeting point for writers and poets. Its annual calendar culminates in this literary gathering, an open space for cultural dialogue and poetic exchange. Over the season, the House has hosted distinguished activities, including poetry readings, critical studies, and the publication of new poetry collections, which together enhance the position of poetry and literature in this region. This is made possible through close cooperation between the Department of Culture in Sharjah and the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication—part of the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the UAE and Morocco, nurtured by the wise leadership of both nations.

Al Owais conveyed the greetings and well-wishes of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the festival’s participants, stating:
I am honored to convey to you the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wishes for your continued success.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Bensaid, Zuhour Amahouche delivered the Ministry’s speech, beginning by praising the Ruler of Sharjah’s initiative in establishing Houses of Poetry:
I highly commend the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi in establishing Houses of Poetry across the Arab world. This has led to a qualitative shift in the Arab cultural scene. I extend my sincere gratitude to our brothers in the Department of Culture in Sharjah for their ongoing contributions.

She added:
On behalf of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, I warmly welcome you all to a new edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival hosted by the House of Poetry in Tetouan, a shining example of the strong collaboration between our Ministry and the Department of Culture in Sharjah.

From Minister Bensaïd’s message, she also shared:
The House of Poetry was established in this city, long regarded as a cradle of modern Moroccan and Arab poetry and culture since the early 20th century. It has remained open to Arab and diaspora poetic experiences, while also engaging with European literary achievements. This makes Tetouan a capital of Arab poetry and a lighthouse of early 20th-century modernity. We acknowledge the House of Poetry’s vital role in preserving the poetic and cultural essence of this historic city, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The people of Tetouan have supported the House’s events from the beginning, culminating in this moment that crowns a year of poetic contribution and cultural brilliance.

She noted that this year’s festival features a rich and diverse program of poetry and artistic performances, with poets representing various regions of Morocco and different dialects and languages—including Amazigh, Arabic, Hassaniya, and other living languages.
This diversity reflects the deep cultural richness of Tetouan, a city with Amazigh, Arab, and Andalusian roots, African depth, and a Mediterranean outlook.