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Poetry lovers gathered at the Msheireb Enrichment Centre recently for an evening of traditional recitals hosted by Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation. |
The evening was modelled on the traditional majlis, a gathering place where the Hakawati, a traditional poet or storyteller would speak. In the past, the Hakawati would often travel from town to village, recounting the oral histories handed down from generation to generation.
The two-hour literary majlis featured the prominent Qatari poets Ali Mirza and Hissa Abdulla in an event moderated by Qatar TV’s Tyseer Abdullah.
Speaking after the event, Ali Mirza underlined the importance of the literary majlis in order to keep poetry alive and see interest rising amongst future generations.
Commenting on Bloomsbury’s significant role in preserving Qatari and Gulf literature, national poet and playwright, Ali Mirza, said: “This project provides Qatari and Gulf writers the unique opportunity to not only discuss their literary work, but also share it with the wider community. These discussions will also contribute to spreading awareness about the richness of Gulf literature.”
The latest majlis followed a similar event in March that focused on fiction writers Mai al-Nakib and Abdulaziz al-Mahmoud. Both events highlight Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation’s ongoing commitment to promote the very best of local and regional literary talent, in addition to hosting events that both educate and enrich the local community.
Arend Küster, acting director of Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation, said: “As a publishing company, we are constantly exploring new ways in which to develop the pursuit of literary excellence in Qatar. The Literary Majlis works not only to highlight existing talent but also to inspire and nurture the next generation of writers, poets and artists.”
Hissa al Awadi is a Qatari poet, playwright and author. She has published six volumes of poetry, and numerous illustrated books of poetry and short stories aimed at entertaining and educating children and young readers. Al-Awadi’s work appears in both English and Arabic.
Ali Mirza is a Qatari artist and poet. He has acted in, produced and directed numerous plays, and has published many volumes of poetry. He is a founding member of Qatar’s theatre movement, established in 1970. He is currently head of the Play Script and Programs Evaluation Department at Qatar television.
