Sharjah: The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) has evolved into a movement against ignorance and intolerance, a top official said during the opening of SIBF’s 35th edition on Wednesday.
Ahmad Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, said SIBF is not only a book fair but also a cultural and intellectual force that “takes out hatred and extremism” while celebrating “peace and love for the written word”.
During SIBF’s opening ceremony at Expo Centre Sharjah, Al Ameri pointed out that the aims of the event stemmed from “the equation of Shaikh Sultan”, referring to the vision of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Shaikh Sultan, who was present during the ceremony and inaugurated the 35th edition, had launched SIBF in 1982. Since then, Al Ameri said, “we brought cultures together from around the world, and beat ignorance, backwardness, and hatred”.
Every year, SIBF hosts talks by renowned intellectuals, authors, cultural icons and celebrities. Many of the talks are focused on building tolerance between societies and dispelling extremist views.
Dh2m translation award
Shaikh Sultan launched his latest Arabic book, the title of which translates to ‘Power Struggles and Trade in the Gulf, 1620-1820’, during the opening ceremony. He signed a copy of the book on stage in the main auditorium.
Present during the opening ceremony was Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, other shaikhs, senior officials and dignitaries.
During the proceedings, Al Ameri announced that Sharjah has launched a new Dh2 million translation award called Tarjuma. Details will be revealed at a later stage.
Shaikh Sultan also awarded the winners of various literary categories of SIBF. This year’s Children’s Book of the Year goes to Ehm! Ehm! Let Me Pass Please (wrote by Nabiha Mheidly and published by Al Hadaek Group).
Also honoured was Gassan Salame, who served as Lebanon’s minister of culture from 2000 to 2003), as this year’s SIBF Cultural Personality of the Year.
Salame said Shaikh Sultan was “the lighthouse of culture between east and west”, who transformed Sharjah into “a capital of culture and Arab identity” while dispelling stereotypes of Arabs.
Referring to “the current painful situation” in some parts of the Arab world, Salame said it is “the right of our brothers who are suffering mental and physical” that “we do what we can do to raise the voice of peace and moderation and reinforce the call for peace and prosperity”.
The 11-day SIBF ends on November 12. On display are 1.5 million books, including 88,000 new titles. A number of prominent Arab, Western and Indian authors and celebrities are also taking part.
