Abu Dhabi’s international book fair to celebrate Egyptian literature
Abu Dhabi’s 33rd International Book Fair, running from April 29th to May 5th, will see a celebration of Egypt’s literary tradition and a focus on renowned Egyptian author and Nobel laureate, Naguib Mahfouz.
The fair is set to be a vibrant hub of literary exchanges, workshops, and panel discussions, providing a platform for both established and emerging writers from around the Middle East and beyond, according to The National and agencies on March 27th.
These festivities surrounding the fair further reinforce the emirate’s strategic vision to position itself as a site of cultural and intellectual activity.
In addition to the book festival, the UAE is also hosting the popular exhibition “Casablanca Art School: Platforms and Patterns for a Postcolonial Avant-Garde 1962-1987”. Running from March 24th until June 16th, the exhibition explores the Casablanca Art School’s impact on redefining Moroccan artistic expression – blending Afro-Berber traditions with contemporary techniques.
READ: Casablanca Art School exhibition opens in Sharjah
Indeed, as the rest of the Middle East continues to shake from the Israel-Hamas War, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) appears to be only increasing in strength, curbing US influence against Iranian proxies and undertaking various deals with Morocco and Tunisia to boost relations.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s prominence in Arab literary history will be showcased through a special exhibition that delves into the country’s contribution to literature, art, and thought. The previous year’s festival saw over 500,000 books displayed, with publishers from 85 nations.
The chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Arabic Language Centre said, “Egypt specifically has been a pioneer in creative work on various fronts including literary, artistic, intellectual and cognitive.
“Naguib Mahfouz is the dean of Arab novelists, a figure who placed Arab literature and the distinctive aspects of Egyptian local culture on a global platform. He introduced Arab culture to other people and civilizations, broadening its reach and scope, shedding light on its aesthetic quality and richness.”
Named as the festival’s “focus personality”, Mahfouz was the first and only Arab author – to date – to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1988, leaving behind a significant cultural legacy.
Eschewing idealised portrayals of Egypt, he presented the globe with a raw, authentic human experience – marked by imperfections and societal issues such as classism, poverty, colonialism – and interwoven with themes of love and deceit.
The festival will also pay homage to his seminal Cairo trilogy which chronicles the societal changes in Egypt from World War I to the 1950s. The trilogy was later adapted into a hugely successful film series towards the end of Egypt’s Golden Age of cinema.
As a pioneering force in modern Arabic literature, his impressive body of work includes 35 novels, over 24 screenplays, and several scripts for stage plays.
The National / Agencies
