Marrakech:The eighth Moroccan Poetry Festival commenced in Marrakech on Friday, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. This three-day event, organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture in collaboration with Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, features the participation of over 50 poets, intellectuals, and artists from Morocco and abroad.
According to Emirates News Agency, the festival's opening ceremony took place at the "Mayadine" venue and was attended by distinguished figures including Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, and Mohammed Benyaacoub, Secretary-General of the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, among others. In his address, Al Owais emphasized the festival's role in fostering poetry and nurturing new talent, highlighting the House of Poetry in Marrakech as a significant platform for poets.
In a message delivered by Mohammed Benyaacoub, Dr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid lauded the House of Poetry's accomplishments over the past nine years, crediting the Ruler of Sharjah's cultural initiatives for reinforcing poetry's role in fostering dialogue and cultural exchange. The festival celebrates various forms of poetry, including classical Arabic, Hassani, and Amazigh, through readings, discussions, and awards.
The House of Poetry in Marrakech honored poets Driss El-Milyani, Khadija Yakan, and Mohamed El-Ghaith Kine for their contributions to the Moroccan poetic landscape. The festival also announced the winners of its eighth "Best Poem" and "Poetic Criticism" awards, with Mohamed Kabdani securing first place in the Best Poem category and Abdeljalil El-Abbassi winning the Poetic Criticism category.
Two documentary films were featured at the opening ceremony, highlighting the establishment and development of the House of Poetry in Marrakech and its key achievements and initiatives over the past year. These films underscored the House's ongoing efforts to support poets and enhance the Moroccan and Arab literary landscapes.