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Moroccan reciters performed well at the competition and demonstrated exceptional talent and proficiency in Quranic recitation.
Moroccan Ilyas Hajri has clinched the title of World Quran Reader in the Hafiz category at the fourth edition of the Bahrain Online Quran Recitation Competition.
The Moroccan Quran reciter won the prize for his exceptional proficiency in reciting the Holy Quran.
This win adds to a string of previous successes, as Hajri has consistently shown excellence in Quranic recitation competitions. Last year, he won first place in the International Quran memorization competition in Astana, Kazakhstan.
In addition to Hajri, Moroccan Yassine El Kazzini secured the second position in the same category.
Meanwhile, Moroccans Abdelbasset Ourach and Mustapha Zahid claimed third places in the categories of memorized recitation (Tajweed) and melodious recitation (Murattal) respectively.
The finals of the competition were conducted in-person in Bahrain’s capital city Manama, where the top performers competed to secure their positions in various categories of Quranic recitation.
The competition brought together over 5,000 participants from 74 countries.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Sameer Mohamed Mujahid from Bahrain was crowned the World Quran Reciter in the Tajweed category, while Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Ahmed from Yemen secured the same title in the category of junior reciters.
Organizers of the competition highlighted its mission to promote and celebrate the recitation and memorization of the Holy Quran.
It also aims to serve the Quranic tradition by providing a platform for individuals of all ages and nationalities to showcase their skills and proficiency in reciting the Quran.
Moroccans have built a strong reputation for their excellence in Quran recitation competitions, consistently shining on the global stage.
Last month, Moroccan Elias Al-Mahiawi won first place at the 20th International Quran Competition in Tanzania.
The third annual Hollywood Arab Film Festival began this week, bringing the best of 2024’s Arab cinema to Los Angeles and giving fans a chance to see the films in theaters as well as introducing a new audience to the Arab world’s top talent.
The event, which runs until April 21, was attended by a number of celebrity guests including Egyptian producer and screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy, Tunisian actor Dhaffer L’Abidine, renowned Egyptian star Elham Shahin and Egyptian producer Tarek El-Ganainy.
At the event, Hefty said: “Arab cinema really needs a platform to tell our stories and to show who we are, our identity, our hopes and dreams, our pains, and all the different social topics that are tackled in some of the films that are being presented are maybe more relevant today than ever. So I think it’s a great opportunity to have this dialogue.”
Hefzy’s film “Hajjan” was showing at the event. It is a Saudi Arabia-based film directed by Egyptian filmmaker Abu Bakr Shawky.
“Hajjan is a film about a young boy who got a very special connection to his camel, who has a brother who was a camel jockey and races,” Hefzy said. “And, one day when something really unexpected happens to his brother, and shatters his world, it forces him to step into his brother’s shoes and become a camel jockey, and so starts racing himself.”
The movie is a co-production between the Kingdom’s King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, and Hefzy’s Film Clinic.
“It was a film made in Saudi Arabia with Saudi talents and actors with an Egyptian director, but with the Saudi co-writer and Saudi actors and shot mostly in Saudi Arabia,” Hefzy said. “So I think it’s, it was a great experience, and learned a lot about Saudi Arabia, learned a lot about the culture.”
The festival featured cinema from various Arab countries, presenting films from 16 different nations. Marlin Soliman, strategic planning director of HAFF, highlighted the inclusion of six feature films, ten short films and six student films.
Spanning five days, HAFF offered its audience a vibrant experience, including a red-carpet affair, panel discussions on filmmaking and diversity in Hollywood, and, of course, screenings of high-profile films.
The festival also saw several filmmakers singing the praises of Saudi Arabia’s expanding film industry.
L’Abidine, the writer and director of “To My Son,” said: “I’m thrilled to be back again with my second feature film ‘To My Son,’ a Saudi film… I think there is a great evolution of Saudi cinema that’s been happening in the last few years.”
The activities of the seventh session of the International Festival of Arabic Language and Culture were concluded in the Italian city of Milan, which was held under the auspices of the Sharjah Book Authority and organized by the College of Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures and the Arabic Language Research Center at the Catholic University, under the title “Language and Artificial Intelligence: A Limit to the Past or a Horizon for the Future.”
“In a step that reflects the spirit of the global cultural mission of the Emirate of Sharjah and confirms the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in highlighting the role of the Arabic language as a bridge for civilizational and cultural communication between peoples.
The events were attended by His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, Mario Cristina Gatti, Director of the Arabic Language Research Center at the University, His Excellency Muhammad Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Radio and Television Authority, and Dr. Amhamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, while participating in The festival sessions included 35 researchers from 18 countries, including 9 Arab countries: the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Yemen and Palestine, in addition to Turkey’s presence for the first time. The festival also hosted 12 academics and university professors from the Catholic University in Italy.
The seventh session of the festival sought to explore the intersections of artificial intelligence with Arabic language and culture, highlighting key topics that include “ethics and legislation of artificial intelligence” and its role as a translator who crosses linguistic borders, as a poet who organizes poems, and as a novelist who weaves stories.
The festival also focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on language teaching and its applications in the language of social communication. It discussed “the role of artificial intelligence in the scientific research and philosophy sector” and its potential in “restructuring the Arab heritage” with a focus on “its impact on language and the arts” in a way that enhances the status of Arabic as a living language. Interact with modern technologies.
His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri had stressed in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the festival that pride in one’s own language is pride in all languages, as the diversity of languages is a necessity for the diversity of cultures, and it is not possible to imagine the world in one language because this means that cultures lose much of the beauty and incentives for learning and discovery, highlighting Shedding light on the major project led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which is the historical dictionary of the Arabic language, of which 67 volumes have been published to date covering 15 of the 28 letters of the Arabic language.
For his part, Dr. Wael Farouk, director of the festival, said: “The participants in this year’s session presented ideas on the topic of ‘Language and artificial intelligence: a limitation of the past or a horizon for the future.’
The opening session presented by Mario Cristina Gatti, director of the Arabic Language Research Center at the university, also witnessed the launch of The first Italian translation of the poetry of Al-Mu’allaqat, which is considered one of the most famous classical texts in the history of Arabic poetry. It is a translation presented by Jolanda Guardi, and it presents a poetic reading by the Iraqi poet and translator Kazem Jihad on the occasion of the publication of his collection of poems in the Italian language.
The festival devoted sessions on the digitization of the Arabic language, artificial intelligence, imagination, artificial intelligence, and translation, with the participation of Dr. Emhamed Safi Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, who reviewed the emirate’s experience in collecting and publishing the largest historical dictionary of the Arabic language as a successful example of digitization.
The translators, Muhammad Haqqi Sushin, Samir Greiss, and Naglaa Wali, raised questions about the capabilities of artificial intelligence as a translator of literary texts, the role of literary translators in the era of artificial intelligence, and the ways in which literary translation can benefit from artificial intelligence.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has recognised Oman’s rich cultural history by including two significant Omani cultural milestones in its list of anniversaries for 2024-2025. This recognition includes the 350th anniversary of the Jibreen Castle and the 150th death anniversary of renowned Omani historian and poet Humaid bin Mohammed bin Ruzaiq.
Since 1956, Unesco has been instrumental in commemorating historical events and eminent personalities of its member states, elevating their significance on a global platform. Such celebrations are pivotal in fostering international understanding, enhancing cultural exchanges and promoting peace.
An architectural gem of the 17th century, Jibreen Castle marks its 350th anniversary of construction under the reign of Imam Belarab bin Sultan al Yarubi. Completed in 1675, the castle is a testament to Oman’s architectural prowess, built by the era’s finest craftsmen and architects. Beyond its architectural magnificence, Jibreen Castle was a centre of knowledge and learning, and served as a residence for the imam and the seat of his governance.
It flourished as an educational hub, attracting scholars and educators in various fields such as jurisprudence, literature, history, astronomy, mathematics, medicine and chemistry. It produced over 40 distinguished scholars and writers under Imam Belarab bin Sultan’s patronage.
In addition to Jibreen Castle, Unesco commemorates the 150th anniversary of the passing of the 19th century Omani historian Ruzaiq. His contributions were monumental in documenting the historical phase from the rise of the Al Busaid dynasty to the end of Sayyid Said bin Sultan’s reign in 1856. His works, characterised by neutrality and meticulous research, provide invaluable insights into the European presence in the Indian Ocean and the Arab region. Ruzaiq’s writings are not only historical records but also serve as critical references for contemporary researchers in Omani history.
The inclusion of these two elements takes the total number of Omani contributions to Unesco’s celebration programme to eight. The sultanate has successfully highlighted six other Omani figures in the past, including linguist Al Khalil bin Ahmed al Farahidi in 2005, pharmacist Rashid bin Omairah al Hashimi al Rustaqi in 2013, polymath Sheikh Nour al Din Abdullah bin Humaid al Salmi and physicist Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Muhammad al Azdi, known as Ibn al Dhahabi, in 2015, poet Nasser bin Salem al Rawahi, also known as Abu Muslim al Bahlani, in 2019, and the famed navigator Ahmed bin Majid al Saadi in 2021.
Unesco’s recognition of Omani cultural heritage underscores the sultanate’s significant contributions to the global cultural landscape, celebrating the rich tapestry of its history and the enduring legacies of its eminent personalities.
Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel-Wahab became the first Arab artist to be awarded at the Billboard Women in Music Awards.
Sherine, 43, claimed the title of Billboard Arabia, a partnership between Billboard and SRMG, a Saudi-integrated media group.
She became one of seven winners of the Global Force Awards at Billboard Women in Music, part of the Billboard Awards held at the YouTube Theatre in Los Angeles on 7 March.
Global Force also included Annalisa (Billboard Italy), Maria Becerra (Billboard Argentina), Sarah Geronimo (Billboard Philippines), Nini Nutsubidze (Billboard Georgia), Tia Ray (Billboard China), and Luísa Sonza (Billboard Brasil).
Sherine was awarded for her Kalam Eineh at No. 1 and El-Watar El-Hassas at No. 2 which topped Billboard Arabia’s global flagship charts.
In her acceptance speech, Sherine expressed her appreciation for Billboard, saying “I am very proud you enjoyed my work, and of course, I am thrilled and proud that there is a music award specially for women. I hope that my work will always reach the entire world.”
Billboard Arabia was launched in June 2023 to shed light on Arab artists, while pledging “to be the premiere global destination for artists with Arab roots.”
According to Billboard Arabia, the platform follows the well-established parameters set by Billboard over eight decades, drawing data from leading digital streaming platforms like Spotify, Anghami, YouTube, and Apple Music, reflecting Arab music preferences globally.
In its inaugural year, Billboard Arabia included ElGrandeToto, Marwan Pablo, Amr Diab, and Ahmed Saad in its top five Arab artists.
Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum named Islamic Personality of the Year.
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, has honoured Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the Islamic Personality of The Year award.
The award was coferred at the closing ceremony of the 27th edition of The Dubai International Quran Award in recognition of her efforts and contributions in supporting Islamic, humanitarian, charitable and social causes.
The award was received on behalf of her by Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a the ceremony held at The Cultural and Scientific Association in Dubai.
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed also honoured members of the award jury alongside 10 awardees.
Mohammed Al Ammri from Bahrain took top honours during the awards ceremony, followed by Naji bin Sliman from Libya, while Sheikh Tijan Ambi from Gambia took third place.
source/content: gulfnews.com (headline edited)
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The grand ceremony of the 27th edition of The Dubai International Quran Award in Dubai.Image Credit: DMO/X
The last book of the “Sultan of History” encyclopaedia, titled “History of Oman from Human Settlement to the End of the Ibadi State,” was launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
This volume completes the encyclopaedia, which is a thorough and authoritative study of Oman’s history. This is the 84th edition of His Highness’s varied works, encompassing several realms of study, including history, biography, literature, theatre, and more.
The latest volume, “History of Oman from Human Settlement to the End of the Ibadi State” is a chapter of Oman’s historical encyclopaedia. His Highness selected a name for the Oman Historical Encyclopaedia that has precise connotations and profound allusions. He titled it the “Sultan of History” encyclopaedia, which means “Authoritative Reference to History.” The “Sultan of History” encyclopaedia is now complete with the current release.
The “Sultan of History” encyclopaedia is divided into four main parts: Part One covers Oman’s history from human settlement until the end of the Ibadi state. Part Two tells the story of Oman’s Nabhani monarchs from 1154 to 1622 AD. Part Three details the history of Oman’s Yarubid dynasty from 1622 to 1747 AD. Part Four of the encyclopaedia covers the history of the Al Bu Said imams in Oman from 1749 to 1856 AD.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, delved into the history of Oman from its first settlement until the end of the Ibadhi state in his current volume of the “Sultan of History” encyclopaedia.
The 84th volume of publications has been divided into five chapters and five appendices. The first chapter focuses on human settlement in Oman, while the second delves into the history of Oman’s Azd monarchs. The third part focuses on Oman’s position throughout the early Islamic period and succeeding periods. The fourth and fifth chapters deal with Oman’s first and second Ibadhi states. Rare papers, one-of-a-kind maps, and significant archaeological objects discovered in Sharjah round out the encyclopaedia.
Three years of thorough research and historical study went into this piece of work. His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al-Qasimi meticulously tackled Oman’s past, incorporating his extensive understanding of history, geography, and archaeology with his extensive field experience.
He also drew from his own library, which contained rare books, rare references, and priceless manuscripts, as well as historical records and maps. The encyclopaedia “Sultan of History” is a valuable historical resource, revealing major events and archaeological locations, and historical facts that add to our understanding of Oman’s past.
Tunisian poet Abdelaziz Hammami’s words resonated through the prestigious Sharjah Arab Poetry Festival, earning him the coveted Al Qawafi award. Held from January 8th to 14th in the UAE, the festival witnessed a celebration of Arabic poetry from across the region.
Hammami, already a seasoned voice in the poetry world with works published in various newspapers and magazines, stood out amongst the diverse talent. This is reported by TAP, a partner of TV BRICS.
Hammami’s journey with poetry began in his hometown of Kairouan, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the city’s first literary club in the late 1960s. His passion for the craft extended beyond writing, as he also served as a correspondent for the TAP news agency and collaborated with national radio and Tunisian television. This win at the Sharjah festival marks a crowning achievement for a poet who has dedicated his life to the beauty of language.
Hammami is not the only Tunisian celebrating at the festival. His compatriot, Moncef Ouhaibi, had earlier bagged the “Sharjah Prize for Poetic Criticism.” This double triumph signifies a potent resurgence of Tunisian poetry on the international stage.
With 12 awards bestowed upon deserving poets and critics from across the Arab world, the 20th Sharjah Arab Poetry Festival reaffirmed its position as a beacon for literary excellence. Hammami’s victory, in particular, underscores the enduring power of poetry to transcend borders and touch hearts.
In medieval Sicily, a specific variant of Arabic emerged after the Aghlabid and Fatimid dynasties. This language, now extinct, left a living legacy.
The emergence ofSicilian Arabic is a direct consequence of the Islamic conquest of Sicily. This period began in 827 AD, initiated by Euphemius, a Byzantine naval commander in Sicily, who sought aid from Muslim forces to regain his command after being deposed in a rebellion. This appeal set the stage for a protracted conflict, ultimately leading to the complete domination of Sicily by Muslim forces by 902 AD. Notably, the resistance persisted in some Byzantine strongholds, with Rometta succumbing as late as 965 AD.
A new era
Under the new Muslim governance, Sicily underwent a profound transformation. This era facilitated the intermingling of Islamic Arab and Berber settlers with the island’s Latin-Romance, Greek-Byzantine, and Jewish populations. Palermo, in particular, flourished as a significant cultural and political nexus within the Islamic world. The establishment of the Emirate of Sicily during this epoch (831 to 1091 AD) marked a significant phase in the island’s history, enduring until the Norman conquest in the late 11th century.
The emergence of Sicilian Arabic to the island was a byproduct of these migrations and conquests, rooted in the Maghrebi Arabic variant brought by Arab troops and settlers from Tunisia. From this dialect, the Siculo-Arabic language emerged. But this linguistic evolution extended beyond Sicily, influencing the language and cultural landscape of nearby Malta , where Sicilian Arabic eventually gave rise to the Maltese language. The Maltese language, with its deep connections to the Maghrebi Arabic variant spoken in Sicily during the Norman period, is a unique blend, integrating elements of Sicilian Romance and Arabic into a distinct parler. This linguistic transformation was later also significantly influenced by the conquests of Roger II and subsequent shifts towards a more European societal structure in both Sicily and Malta from 1091 to 1127, accentuating the Latin element of the Maltese language.
Between East and West
Maltese, today, is officially classified within the South Arabic branch of the Central Semitic languages, traces its lineage through Sicilian Arabic back to Tunisian Arabic, part of the broader Maghrebi Arabic family. Despite its Semitic roots, a substantial portion of the Maltese vocabulary is derived from Romance languages, predominantly due to the influence of Sicilian Latin and Tuscan. But the language, today, is a surviving descendant of the now-extinct Arabic of Sicily. Moreover, a study entitled “Mutual intelligibility of spoken Maltese, Libyan Arabic, and Tunisian Arabic functionally tested” by Čéplö et al. examines the proximity of Maltese to East Maghrebi Arabic and found an noteworthy degree of intelligibility between Maltese and Tunisian and Libyan Arabic dialects today.
In recognition of his distinguished work in revitalizing and sustaining Jordanian and Arab cinema, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is bestowing its 5th Arab Cinema Personality of the Year Award to Mohannad Al-Bakri,the Managing Director of the Jordanian Royal Film Commission (RFC) during the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, which will run from February 15th to 25th.
The award, which coincides with the ACC’scelebration of its own 10th anniversary, is designed to honor and highlight prominent industry figures whosepersistent contributions have helped elevate the Arabfilm industry in the eyes of the international filmmaking community as a whole.
Al Bakri has been instrumental in rousing the country’s film industry from its slumber sinceassuming his position in 2009 through his development of the commission’s funding and training programs, as well as building local production capacity with the opening of Jordan’s first dedicated film studio complex. Under his guidance,Jordan has become a competitive and enticing destination for filmmakers through a combination of extraordinary landscapes, universally praised production services and its cost-effectiveness as ashooting location.
After starting out at the RFC in 2007 as a capacity-building manager, Al-Bakri quickly rose to the title ofmanaging director by 2009. Before that, he kickstarted his professional career at the Hashemite Fund for Human Development where he developed dynamic programs promoting the active role of youths in society.
In addition to his work for the RFC, he was also appointed as Regional Managing Director of Luminus Media – Jordan (SAE Institute) from 2012 until 2015 before joining New York University in Abu Dhabi as director of External Relations and Partnerships from2015 until 2019.
“We take immense pride in honoring Mohannad Al-Bakri, the Managing Director of the Jordanian Royal Film Commission (RFC) with the Arab CinemaPersonality of the Year Award. Since assuming his position, he has made enormous and noteworthy efforts to advance the Jordanian film industry,” saidAlaa Karkouti and Maher Diab — Co-founders ofArab Cinema Center — in a joint statement.
“This is evidenced by the outstanding successJordanian films have achieved so far both locally andinternationally, including INSHALLAH A BOY,which world premiered at Cannes’ 62nd Critics Week,winning two unprecedented awards in the history of Jordanian cinema,” they added.
Last year, the Arab Cinema Center gave its ArabCinema Personality of the Year Award to Mouhamad Keblawi the Founder and Head of Malmö Arab Film Festival in Sweden. Other recipients of the Award include Chiraz Latiri, former general director of theCentre National du Cinema et de l’Image, andrenowned producer and screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy— the Founder of Film Clinic. The inaugural award went to both Abdulhamid Juma and Masoud Amralla Al Ali, chairman and artistic director, respectively, ofthe now-shuttered Dubai International Film Festival.
Established by MAD Solutions, the ACC is a nonprofit organization registered in Berlin. The ACC provides networking opportunities with representatives ofcompanies and institutions involved in co-production,international sales and distribution, film festival,commercial exhibition and industry events.
The organization’s activities include hosting filmmarket stands, networking sessions, one-on-onemeetings, welcome parties, panel discussions andmeetings with international organizations and festivals. It also publishes the Arab Cinema Magazine, which itdistributes at leading international film festivals andmarkets.
A newsletter subscription is now available on theACC’s website, allowing users to obtain digital copies of the Arab Cinema Magazine, as well as news on theACC’s activities, notifications of application dates forgrants, festivals and offers from educational andtraining institutions, updates on Arab films participating at festivals, exclusive news on the Arab Cinema LAB, and highlights from the ACC’s partnersand their future projects.
Additionally, the ACC launched the Arab Cinema Directory in English on its website, the first time that users from both within and outside the Arab-speaking world have easy access to information on Arab cinemaall in one place.
