Dar Al Muheet Publishing House, Fujairah, released a new book by poet and journalist Mohammed Ghabris.
Titled ‘Cultural Conversations, Figures from the UAE’, the book explores the United Arab Emirates’ cultural, artistic, and creative history in interviews with Emirati writers, poets, novelists and artists, providing a clear picture of the cultural scene in all its trends and shapes, and highlighting the experiences and journeys of prominent names who played a major role in establishing and promoting the cultural, literary, and artistic movement in the country.
“Those creative, prominent people are a bridge of communication about art, creativity, and music with no preconditions except for passion, love, and hope. Their role is to establish a human, universal dialogue enhanced with ideas, visions, and dreams; a dialogue that reshapes history with truth and achievements and adds sanctity and ovation to people’s aspirations and hopes.
“Art promises future, music unifies the world, and creativity renews life; here, culture grows, and celebrates diversity and plurality,” Ghabris wrote in the introduction.
The interviews published in the book reflect opinions and testimonies that observe past and present cultural and intellectual transformations, young talented names that proved their position and presence with worthy achievements, and rich initiatives and projects that contributed to social advancement.
The book is composed of three chapters: the first, ‘Events’, includes a glimpse on the biographies of a group of intellects and their works, including Mohammed Khalifa bin Hader, Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Dr. Shehab Ghanem, Maryam bin Fahed, and Mohammed al-Kassir.
The second chapter, ‘Creations’, includes some interviews with poets, novelists, and artists including Ahmed Obeid al-Hindasi, Khouloud al-Maalla, Basima Younes, Fatima al-Mazroui, Dr. Talal al-Junaibi, Sheikh al-Mutairi, Louloua al-Mansouri, Aisha al-Sheikh, Mohammed al-Imadi, Fathia al-Nemer, Salma al-Merry, Hassan al-Najjar, Maryam al-Zaouni, Narjes Noureddine, Jamila al-Rouaihi, Abdullah al-Jaberi, and Salima al-Mazroui.
The writer used the third chapter, ‘Theatrical Insights’, to shed light on some of the efforts made to ‘promote, advance, and upscale theater by a group of theater actors, directors, and playwrights, who devotedly worked to provide all the needed training, development, sponsor, and incubation.
They had major contributions in the history of Emirati theater despite the difficulties and challenges, and proved with their abilities, potentials, and dreams a significant influence in enriching the cultural scene with visions, opinions, and achievements that reflected their creative values and rich expertise.
These names include Ismail Abdullah, Mari al-Haliyan, Mariam Sultan, Omar Ghbash, Abdullah al-Manai, Abdullah Saleh, Samira Ahmed, Hamid Sambij, Salem, al-Hitawi, Ahmed al-Jasmi, Mohammed Abdullah al-Ali, Ibrahim Salem, Seif al-Ghanem, Bilal Abdullah, Ahmed al-Ansari, Said Salem, Saber Rajab, Aisha Abdulrahman, Naji al-Hay, and Mohammed Said al-Salti.
