Tunisia Celebrates the First Decade of the Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival

More than 450 events organized with the participation of around 1,300 creatives since 2015

Strong organizational momentum in the tenth year with 44 cultural activities involving 140 creatives

Poems narrating the story of hope at “Ennejma Ezzahra Palace”

Tunisia Celebrates the First Decade of the Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival

Festival audience receives the good news of the release of the first edition of the initial phase of the “Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia” project

Al Owais: The House of Poetry in Kairouan is a shining cultural beacon

Tunisian Minister of Culture commends the efforts of the Ruler of Sharjah and reaffirms her belief in Sharjah’s cultural project

Sidi Bou Said – Tunisia

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the Republic of Tunisia witnessed a wide cultural celebration marking ten years since the establishment of the House of Poetry in Kairouan (2015). This took place during the opening ceremony of the tenth edition of the Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival, organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture from 19–21 December, with the participation of more than 40 creatives, including poets, artists, and critics from Tunisia and across the Arab world.

The opening ceremony was held at Ennejma Ezzahra Palace overlooking the Mediterranean coast in the Sidi Bou Said area of the Tunisian capital, Tunis. The event was attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture; Dr. Tawfiq Qreira, representing Her Excellency Amina Al-Srarfi, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and Director General of the Translation Institute at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs; Saeed Rashid Al Hafeeti, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Tunisia; in addition to Tunisian and Arab intellectuals, writers, academics, and a large audience of poetry enthusiasts.

The festival’s opening carried a celebratory spirit reflected in the contributions of the poets participating in the first poetry session. Before reciting their poems, they praised the initiative of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in establishing Houses of Poetry, describing Sharjah as the “Princess of Culture,” and affirming that it has never hesitated to support this pioneering cultural project throughout the Arab world