Khalil Gibran’s Lebanon Hometown Celebrates ‘The Prophet’ Centennial 

A bust sculpture depicting Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist Gibran Khalil Gibran is displayed at the entrance of his hometown of Bsharre in northern Lebanon on October 5, 2023. (AFP)
A bust sculpture depicting Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist Gibran Khalil Gibran is displayed at the entrance of his hometown of Bsharre in northern Lebanon on October 5, 2023. (AFP)
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Khalil Gibran’s Lebanon Hometown Celebrates ‘The Prophet’ Centennial 

A bust sculpture depicting Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist Gibran Khalil Gibran is displayed at the entrance of his hometown of Bsharre in northern Lebanon on October 5, 2023. (AFP)
A bust sculpture depicting Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist Gibran Khalil Gibran is displayed at the entrance of his hometown of Bsharre in northern Lebanon on October 5, 2023. (AFP)

Nestled in the mountains of northern Lebanon, a museum dedicated to Gibran Khalil Gibran in his hometown of Bsharre has been celebrating the centennial of "The Prophet", the renowned author's most famous work.

Since it was first published in the United States in 1923, millions of copies of "The Prophet" have been sold worldwide, with the book becoming a literary classic that has been translated into dozens of languages from the original English.

"Every reader, no matter where they're from, feels that this book relates to them and moves them deeply... whether they are Christian, Muslim, Jewish" or atheist, said museum director Joseph Geagea.

It "touches the spirituality of each individual, dealing with death, life, friendship, love, children" and other topics, he added.

A collection of poetic prose, "The Prophet" tells the story of Almustafa, who before returning to his homeland, speaks to residents of the city of Orphalese about various aspects of life.

Divided into 26 chapters, verses from "The Prophet" are often quoted at births, weddings and funerals around the world.

"Biblical style is pervasive" in "The Prophet", Lebanese author Alexandre Najjar said during a recent reading in Beirut, also noting the influence of Islam's mystic Sufi tradition.

"The Prophet" captured the hearts of students and hippies in the 1960s, Najjar said, including for the passage: "Your children are not your children... they come through you but not from you."

Elvis Presley "loved the book so much that he used to give it to his friends on their birthday", he added.

Other celebrities and leaders, from John Lennon to Japan's former Empress Michiko and late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, were also fond of the book, the museum's Geagea said.

'Deeply spiritual vision'

Gibran was born in Bsharre in 1883, when Lebanon was under Ottoman rule, but wrote most of his books in the United States, where he headed the New York Pen League, the first Arab-American literary society.

Overlooking Lebanon's Qadisha Valley, the museum was set up in a former 18th century monastery and exhibits some 150 paintings by the author that show "his deeply spiritual vision of existence", Geagea said.

A table displays 11 translations of "The Prophet" released between 1923 and 1931.

"Gibran strongly wished to return to Bsharre, which he left at age 12," said Geagea, but the writer died before he could get the chance.

The monks decided to sell the monastery and the surrounding land to Gibran's sister after the author's death in 1931, when he was just 48.

The site was transformed into his burial place and then into a museum for his artworks and other objects, and receives around 50,000 visitors a year from five continents, Geagea said.

Despite his popularity among readers, Gibran's most famous work received a lukewarm reception at the time of writing from American critics, who criticized it as simplistic and moralizing.

In April this year, an exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in New York also marked the work's centenary.



Saudi Culture Ministry to Host Cultural Week in Greece

The landmark event will offer visitors an immersive experience of the diverse cultural heritage of the Kingdom. SPA
The landmark event will offer visitors an immersive experience of the diverse cultural heritage of the Kingdom. SPA
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Saudi Culture Ministry to Host Cultural Week in Greece

The landmark event will offer visitors an immersive experience of the diverse cultural heritage of the Kingdom. SPA
The landmark event will offer visitors an immersive experience of the diverse cultural heritage of the Kingdom. SPA

The Ministry of Culture is set to launch Saudi Cultural Week in Greece, taking place from September 27 to October 1 at the historic Zappeion Hall in Athens.

The landmark event will offer visitors an immersive experience of the diverse cultural heritage of the Kingdom, showcasing the cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Greece and highlighting the shared values between the two nations.

Various commissions under the Ministry of Culture and Saudi cultural institutions will present multiple elements of Saudi culture. Craftsmen will display traditional arts and handcrafts, including the creation of the Bisht (a traditional men's outer cloak), weaving Al Sadu (traditional textile), and crafting Mibkhara (incense burners). Workshops will be organized to highlight these traditional arts, featuring collaboration between Greek and Saudi artisans. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in conventional weaving and experience these time-honored crafts firsthand.

Attendees will also discover traditional Saudi fashion through collections by local designers, with pieces available for purchase, allowing visitors to take home a piece of Saudi fashion heritage. The Saudi fashion exhibition will also highlight contemporary designs and display attires from renowned creators in the field.

Throughout the five-day event, visitors can explore an exhibition of replicas of Saudi Arabia's historical artifacts, offering a glimpse into the Kingdom's vast heritage. Additionally, another exhibition will feature rare manuscripts that highlight the linguistic legacy of the Arabic language.

The event will include culinary experiences, with Saudi chefs conducting live cooking demonstrations of popular traditional dishes from the Kingdom. Saudi coffee, a cultural symbol of Saudi hospitality, will be served to visitors, and a boutique store will display Saudi food products such as dates and Madinah dried rose.

Moreover, the event will feature live performances of traditional Saudi music, dance, performing arts, and theater, showcasing the Kingdom's rich musical and performance arts heritage. Visitors can also enjoy screenings of popular Saudi short films.

Saudi Cultural Week in Greece aims to celebrate and encourage cultural dialogue and collaboration, featuring a variety of activities and exhibitions that showcase the Kingdom's cultural heritage, contemporary art, and culinary artistry. The event will provide a platform for shared cultural values and ongoing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Greece.