The Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival celebrates its tenth poetic decade

At the conclusion of the tenth edition

The Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival celebrates its tenth poetic decade

Intellectuals: Houses of Poetry affirm the unity of Arab culture

Sidi Bou Said – Tunisia

The tenth edition of the Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival celebrates its tenth poetic decade, marking a full ten years of sustained poetic creativity. This milestone reflects a cultural journey that has firmly established the House of Poetry in Kairouan at the heart of the Tunisian and Arab cultural landscape.

Over the course of three days, the city of Sidi Bou Said, in the Tunisian capital, witnessed a vibrant wave of creative activity hosted by the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. During this period, the House of Poetry in Kairouan concluded the festival’s tenth edition amid strong public engagement that accompanied the poetry readings and the critical seminar, highlighting the audience’s deep literary appreciation.

The festival was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and was organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture, with distinguished participation from Tunisian and Arab poets, critics, and writers from Algeria and Libya.

The closing ceremony, held at Ennejma Ezzahra Palace, was attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs; poet Jamila Al-Majri, Director of the House of Poetry in Kairouan; along with a large gathering of poetry and literature enthusiasts.

In her closing remarks, Jamila Al-Majri said:
“Sharjah’s continued patronage of Arab culture, and the celebration of ten years since the establishment of the Houses of Poetry, reflect the great importance His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi places on supporting the cultural movement and strengthening the presence of poetry and literature across the Arab world. Over these years, the House of Poetry in Kairouan has remained open to Arab countries, hosting young poetic talents and providing opportunities for the exchange of literary and cultural experiences. This has contributed to strengthening ties among Arab poets and creating a fertile space for creativity and artistic dialogue across generations.”

She added:
“The House of Poetry in Kairouan continues its sustained support for young talents through training programs, workshops, and regular poetry readings, which have helped refine the skills of emerging poets and empower them to participate effectively in the Arab cultural scene. The House has also strengthened its partnerships with local cultural institutions and hosted joint events, enabling wide-ranging cultural and artistic exchange, and contributing to the dissemination of Arabic poetry and the introduction of Arab and international audiences to Arabic poetic creativity.”