Abu Dhabi: To commemorate the anniversary of the death in 965 CE of renowned poet Abu at-Tayyib Al Mutanabbi, the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi’s (DCT Abu Dhabi) Poetry Encyclopedia initiative is organising a seminar dedicated to the author’s life and work.
Taking place at Manarat Al Saadiyat on Monday 23 September, the event will give visitors the chance to enjoy the legacy of the celebrated Arab poet, exploring his poems and literary life, as well as his role in enriching the Arabic poetry canon.
The seminar will see the participation of prominent figures such as Emirati writer Jamal Matar, author of a book about Al Mutanabbi; Jordanian academic Dr. Mufleh Hweitat, a faculty member of the University of Jordan and author of Poetry of Conflict, a book examining Al Mutanabbi’s oeuvre; and Dr. Hana Sobhi, a faculty member at the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi.
Poet Jarir Al Kaabi and HE Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Authority, will recite a selection Mutanabbi’s poems accompanied by music and song, in a special session that will be opened to the public.
The event is part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s efforts to promote cultural and literary activity in the capital, encouraging community interaction with different intellectual and creative fields.
"Abu at-Tayyib Al Mutanabbi is one of the most renowned figures in the history of Arab culture,” said Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Acting Executive Director, National Library Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi. “His poetry is honest and romantic, and still resonates deeply all these centuries later; it remains an inspiration for many novelists and poets to this day. This seminar will highlight the impact of his legacy and the important role that poetic verse plays in the literary arena, and will be a fascinating experience for both poetry lovers and those not so familiar with the art form.”
Born in Kufa, Iraq in 915 CE, Al Mutanabbi began writing poetry when he was just nine years old. Covering such philosophical topics as courage, wisdom, resentment and greed, as well as descriptions of battles and political turmoil, his poems are a valuable record of his life and times, covering the intellectual issues, revolutions and turbulence of the time. With a vivid and robust imagination, and a gift for eloquence of expression, his words were an instrument used to express the author’s many aspirations and emotions.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s Poetry Encyclopedia is the largest multimedia database of Arabic poetry in the world, providing access to thousands of works in both visual and audio formats as well as a variety of articles and academic studies. It is the product of more than 20 years of research, documentation and electronic reproduction of poetry and literature by numerous researchers, experts and advisory committees. More than 4,000 collections of Arabic poetry from different eras with more than 2 million verses of poetry are available, as well as a number of authoritative Arabic dictionaries and hundreds of books dealing with different aspects of Arabic language and literature.
The wide range of collected poems are authored by poets both famous and obscure, and date from the pre-Islamic era to the present. The encyclopedia contains a special audio section featuring renowned Arab writers and artists reading their own poems and the work of others. With the richness of the database and the diversity of search options, Poetry Encyclopedia is a valuable and reliable source for scientists, researchers, academics, students and lovers of poetry.
For more information, please visit https://poetry.dctabudhabi.ae/.
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About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
The Department of Culture and Tourism 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, which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The organization 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 programs relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. DCT - Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.
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