Sharjah: The 15th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF) started yesterday (Sunday) with an agenda packed with diverse activities.
The five-day forum, organised by the Sharjah Heritage Institute, is aimed at highlighting the importance of narrators and will feature storytellers, performers and experts from over 20 Arab and non-Arab countries.
The scheduled activities include a symposium on ancient Arab storytelling, the Books and Book Covers exhibition, a narration workshop, as well as live performances by local and international narrators, all to be held across Sharjah.
The opening ceremony on Sunday was attended by a number of guests, including over 200 fans and schoolchildren.
Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, President of Sharjah Heritage Institute, said the SINF was originally conceptualised in 2001 as ‘Narrator’s Day’ and was aimed at celebrating and rewarding local bearers of intangible human heritage.
“Today, the forum’s activities have been extended to cover five days and we now have a wider international participation. The forum seeks to shed light on the importance of narrators as keepers of intangible heritage through a series of symposia and roundtables.”
This year’s edition of SINF will also feature an exhibition titled ‘Books and Book Covers’ presented by Dr Némer Salamún and a creative writing workshop in Arabic and English led by Susana Haering Keenan.
The forum’s acts and performances will take place in various locations in Sharjah, including Al Majaz Waterfront, Mega Mall, Arab Cultural Club and Central Market.
In addition, the Sharjah Heritage Institute’s headquarters will also host a number of activities, including the ‘Story Street’, which has been set up in a specially erected tent that mimics old roads where narrators used to perform in the past.
Earlier this month, the Sharjah Heritage Institute hosted two workshops on the art of narration for schoolchildren and adults. The two-day workshops provided attendees with an overview of narration techniques.
