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Abu Dhabi - The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will be participating in the 34th edition of the Tunis International Book Fair, with a cultural programme packed with activities, events, seminars and interviews with Emirati writers and authors.
Managed by Tunisian novelist Shukri Mabkhout, this edition of the book fair, which will run from the April 6th to 15th, is themed under the slogan ‘We Read to Live Twice’ and will feature 11 Tunisian exhibitors, in addition to 128 Arab and 12 foreign exhibitors from 32 countries worldwide.
The DCT Abu Dhabi programme will incorporate talks on the diversity of Emirati culture and highlight the most important translation works of the Kalima Translation Project, and will also explore the Tunisian perspective of the Emirati intellectual scene.
Additionally, Kalima will organise three seminars on the fundamentals of publishing and ways to promote it, underscoring the importance of narration, translation and reading.
Abdullah Majed Al Ali, Acting Executive Director of the National Library Sector, DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “It is our aim at the National Library Sector to promote the publications of DCT Abu Dhabi, especially those related to local heritage, to introduce the world to the depths of Emirati culture through different literary fields, and children’s publications. Therefore, we are committed to participating in both regional and international exhibitions of all types and themes. Our participation in this book fair offers the chance for contributors to develop existing partnerships, and explore potential collaboration opportunities, with cultural institutions and players in the Tunisian publishing industry.”
The UAE’s participation this year will provide an opportunity for participants to explore new opportunities for collaboration with the Tunisian market, with the aim of encouraging and establishing partnerships and agreements with publishing houses and cultural institutions in North African country.
The first seminar, entitled ‘Translation between Commercial and Cultural Publishers’, will introduce the Kalima project and its publications. With the participation of translator Jamal Al Jalasi, Dr. Al Sahbi Al Allani, Dr. Fatih bin Amer, and media professional Noureddine Battayeb, the seminar will discuss Kalima’s translations in various literary fields, whether in narration, thought, critique (literature and art), or science (specialised translation in human or historical sciences).
The second seminar will focus on Kalima’s publications in the field of narration; featuring Syrian writer Nabil Suleiman who will explore translation as a dynamic work of fiction, while Emirati writer Reem Al Kamali will explain her approach to narrative writing and its terminology.
The following seminar will feature Professor Hatem Al-Fantasi, who will explore the openness of Kalima in its publications, especially the narrative ones, making it an international project specialising in the field of translation. Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji will also talk about Kalima’s regulations and its criteria for selecting translation material. This seminar will conclude with a poetry session featuring Tunisian poet Al Monsef Mezghani, accompanied by a musical performance by Riad Abdullah.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s seminars will conclude with a session focussing on how the Kalima project promotes reading as an essential creative act that is one of the basic needs for living. These approaches are based on three main questions: What are the benefits of reading? What should we read? How do we read?
Moderated by media professional Sassi Jbeil, the final seminar will host philosopher and translator Dr. Youssef Al Siddiq, Dr. Monsef Al Wahaibi, Dr. Hatem Al Fatanasi, and Dr. Al Moez Al Wahabi.
From its pavilion, DCT Abu Dhabi will present its leading regional and international cultural projects, showcasing 650 of its National Library Sector’s most popular authored and translated publications, and the latest developments related to the 28th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF).
The National Library Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi seeks to nurture the translation scene in the Arab world, and support vibrant intellectual activity in Abu Dhabi, to add to the regional and international cultural scenes. It finances the translation and publication of classical and contemporary works from all around the world into Arabic through its Kalima project, whilst also collects and archives ancient Arabic and Islamic manuscripts covering the fields of literature, religion and science. It also publishes the literary works and research papers of local writers and researchers.
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About The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.
© Press Release 2018
