The 21^st edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF) will be held between 22 and 30 September in key strategic locations across Sharjah, organizers announced at a press conference held yesterday (Tuesday) at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park.

Led by His Excellency Dr Abdul Aziz AlMusallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and the Supreme Organizing Committee of SINF, along with Aisha Al-Hussan Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Centre of the Institute and General Coordinator of the SINF, organizers further revealed that this year’s edition will have as its slogan, “Animal Stories” and will include many discussion sessions, training workshops, and public events, in addition to an accompanying exhibition, virtual events, and workshops for children, with participation from 38 countries from around the world.

Sharjah is a destination for narrators, experts and researchers from all over

Al Musallamstressed that the Forum has become an exceptional cultural tradition that is held annually, with an updated and relevant calendar of events and activities, thanks to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. “Through the forum, we have an excellent opportunity to celebrate our vision, as well as honor the icons and torchbearers of popular heritage as they are human treasures, whose knowledge, skills and experiences are worthy of celebration through their life’s work and cultural contributions that help to preserve our heritage,” said His Excellency.

In his speech during the press conference, Al Musallam added: “The path of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum encapsulates many years of serious cultural work, which has given heritage the great prestige it deserves. It has made Sharjah a destination for narrators, experts and researchers from all over, and a pioneering model to be followed in protecting human treasures and preserving heritage, and its success is celebrated and acknowledged in many international forums.”

Remembering forgotten treasures

AlMusallam pointed out that this session of the forum is held under the slogan “Animal Stories”, to celebrate the rich, and diverse Emirati, Arab and human narrative heritage, because of its great importance in expressing human issues that are reflected through popular culture. “This type of literature, expressed through the tongue and logic of animals, have become forgotten treasures which the forum will seek to revive as precious literary gems.”

Participation from 38 countries, with Sudan as country-in-focus

For her part, Aisha Al-Hussan Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Centre of the Institute and General Coordinator of the SINF said: “The new session of the forum includes seminars, lectures and sessions that review many important approaches to animal stories, with the participation of a group of experts, researchers and writers from more than 38 countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Sudan, Senegal, Kenya, Comoros, India, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Bolivia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Dominican Republic, Finland, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Canada and Romania”.

Aisha Al-Hussan Al Shamsi added: “The Republic of Sudan will be country-in-focus in this year’s edition of the forum and will be represented by Dr. Ahmed Abdel Rahim Nasr, the honored personality of the year in recognition of his contributions to Arab cultural heritage. The Tunisian storyteller AbdelazizLaroui will also be honored as a legal personality in celebration of his rich storytelling legacy”.

Institutions and organizations that enrich the forum’s program

This session will witness the participation of a number of organizations, cultural centers, universities and institutes, namely: UNESCO, ISESCO, ALECSO, Association al Munyia de Marrakech, Shamma Council for Thought and Knowledge, Moroccan Encounter and Storytelling Art School in Marrakech. Several government agencies will also participate in the activities this year, namely: Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Emirates Heritage Club, and Fujairah Art Academy.

A selection of Emirati and Arab artists

A group of Emirati and Arab artists will participate in the forum, most notably the artist Dr. Yahya Al-Fakhrani, HalaFakher from Egypt, Muhammad Yassin from Bahrain, Sana BakrYounis from Saudi Arabia, as well as Dr. Habib Ghuloom and Jassim Obaid from the UAE.

Intellectual program and workshops

This year’s forum includes several workshops each focusing on a wide range of topic, including traditional doll making, the storyteller, decorating pens and pencils, origami paper folding, making animals with wool threads, plaster coloring, recycling, drawing animals by numbers, color painting, as well as lead and charcoal painting.

Meanwhile the intellectual program accompanying the forum includes various lectures, specialized seminars, dialogues, a cultural café, and a corner for signing the forum’s publications such as “Animals in the Arab and World Heritage” among others.

Animal story exhibition and virtual events

This year’s forum will be accompanied by an exhibition on animal stories in the Emirati, Arab and world heritage, in addition to more than 30 different titles from the publications of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, highlighting the forum’s slogan and its richness and diversity, as well as 16 workshops, including interactive sessions which were held before the start of the forum, and were met with great interest from participants.

With the aim of introducing the forum to the public and enabling them to follow its comprehensive program of events and activities, whether outside the UAE or abroad, this year’s session includes a set of virtual events broadcast remotely, including some cultural café seminars, storytelling sessions, as well as live transmission of the forum In some Arab countries, via the Internet and social media platforms.