Inaugural Literature and Music Festival Opens In Abu Dhabi

Week-long initiative celebrating Arabic Language Day launches at Manarat Al Saadiyat with a programme of performing arts and music

Abu Dhabi, 19 December 2017 –  Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the inaugural Literature and Music Festival has opened in Abu Dhabi in celebration of Arabic Language Day. The Festival launched with an evening of poetry reading and oud performances, featuring poetry recital by Hamed Alawi AlHashemi and Ahmed AlMannaee, who were joined by musicians from Bait Al Oud. 

Visitors to the opening of the festival also enjoyed spectacular light shows depicting the beauty of the Arabic language on the facade of Manarat al Saadiyat. 

Serving as a forum for artists, scholars, writers, musicians and people interested in the fusion of literature and music, the new Literature and Music Festival brings live musical performances, puppet shows, oud performances, light shows, and recitals as part of its festivities running until Saturday, 23 December. 

With the aim of celebrating the national language, the festival seeks to reflect Emirati traditions and heritage while stimulating creativity and originality. Residents and visitors have the chance to learn how music and literature are intertwined and how they can influence and inspire each other through a selection of carefully curated performances.

Held on 18 December each year, World Arabic Language Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity. The date was chosen to commemorate the day when the United Nations General Assembly approved Arabic as an official UN language in 1973.

Activities will be held until 23 December at Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island and Umm Al Emarat Park as below:

Thursday, 21 December - Enchanting Literature by Jahida Wehbe
Location: Manarat Al Saadiyat
Time: 8pm

Accompanied by a band of around 10 musicians from the UAE, France, and Lebanon, Jahida will perform a combination of songs, texts and poems by Arab and international poets and writers, including Al Mutanabbi, Rumi, Omar Khayyam, Mahmoud Darwish, Khalil Gibran and Ahlam Mosteghanemi, as well as translations of famous literary pieces by Gunter Grass, Pablo Neruda and Lorca. 

Saturday, 23 December - The Gift – a shadow puppet theatre show
Location: Umm Al Emarat Park
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Aiming to engage families and children, a shadow puppetry show titled “The Gift” will tell the unique story of an elephant that was gifted to Carolingian emperor Charlemagne by the Abbasid caliph Harun Al Rashid. 

From 18- 23 December - Light shows
Location: Manarat Al Saadiyat
Time: 6pm – 12am
Light projections depicting famous verses from Arabic poetry will decorate the locations of the Festival throughout its duration. Manarat Al Saadiyat will be adorned with such light displays of Arabic calligraphy.