Sharjah African Literature Festival to Begin January 24
Sharjah: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the directives of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the inaugural Sharjah Festival of African Literature will take place from January 24 to 27 at Sharjah University City.
According to Emirates News Agency, the festival will span four days, offering a robust program featuring eight Book Talk sessions, three panel discussions, and twelve workshops for children. Complementing these activities are musical performances and roaming shows that will celebrate the richness of African culture, aiming to foster cultural dialogue and exchange between the Arab world and Africa.
The festival, organized by SBA under the theme ‘The Tale of Africa’, seeks to introduce residents and visitors to African literature, highlighting its role in the global cultural landscape and reinforcing Sharjah’s status as an international cultural hub. The event will host 29 publishers from Africa and the UAE, including notable Nobel laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah and Wole Soyinka, providing an opportunity for the public to engage with esteemed African literary and artistic voices.
Book Talk sessions will delve into curated titles, exploring their themes, while 12 interactive workshops for children will focus on African jewelry, pottery, folklore storytelling sessions, and storytelling stones. Culinary enthusiasts will have the chance to attend cooking sessions led by Chef Lillian Elidah and Nigerian authors Ozoz Sokoh and Wana Udobang, exploring African culinary traditions.
Panel discussions will cover African traditions, literary techniques, and storytelling themes. The session ‘Much More Than Wakanda’ will feature Guinean author Cheryl Ntumy, Nigerian writer Wole Talabi, and Zimbabwean author Tendai Huchu, emphasizing the richness of African culture beyond stereotypes. Kenyan storyteller Mara Menzies will also lead a storytelling session.
Emirati author Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Botswanan author Kenanao Phele, and Nigerian lawyer Ifeoma Esiri will discuss fostering a culture of reading during the panel ‘Building Institutions that Promote Reading’. Nigerian authors Fatima Bala, Chika Unigwe, and Nnamdi Ehirim will join Emirati writer Salha Obaid in a session titled ‘Creating Timeless Characters’, focusing on developing characters that embody both African and Middle Eastern cultures.
The festival will also showcase traditional African music and African-Arab musical fusions. On January 26, South African opera singer Ann Masina will perform, blending operatic art with South African sounds.
Concluding the event, a poetry evening titled Voices Unbound, moderated by Emirati poet Shaikha Al Mutairi, will feature poets from the UAE and Africa, including Wana Udobang, Ali Al Abdan, Maryam Bukar, Mohammed Al Habsi, Deborah Johnson, and Dami Ajayi, celebrating cultural dialogue and shared heritage.
The Sharjah Festival of African Literature exemplifies the emirate’s vision of connecting continents through shared literary and cultural heritage, serving as a platform for dialogue and cultural celebration.