Manarat al Saadiyat
18-23 December
Literature and Music Festival is a forum for artists, scholars, writers, musicians and anyone interested in the fusion of literature and music, in response to the United Nation’s assigned Arabic Language Day, 18 December, which engages the community in the celebration of Arabic language.
The main message of the Festival is to reflect the intertwined connection between literature and music through a selection of performances. The Festival aims to stimulate creativity and originality, focusing on Arabic literature and exploring the synergy between the two disciplines.
‘Melody of Words’
Bait Al Oud concert with Emirati Poets Hamed AlHashmi and Ahmed AlMannaee
The concert featuring Oud player Shahriyar will offer a unique insight into the international role of the Oud instrument. Oud is not only the core instrument of Arabic music but it has also been an integral part of traditional music, proving the long historic path that has marked its development during the centuries.
Shahriyar, together with Bait Al Oud teachers Sherine Tohami (Oud), Bassam Abdel Sattar (Qanoon), Ahmad Taha (Oriental Cello) will team up with renowned Emirati Poets, Hamed Al Hashemi and Ahmed Al Menhali. The concert will celebrate a unique dialogue between music melodies and poetry words.
Manarat AlSaadiyat
18 December 2017
8:00 pm
‘Enchanting Literature’
Concert with Jahida Wehbe highlighting the close synergy between music, literature of Arab culture and literary legacy of Arab writers and poets such as Al Mutanabbi, Wallada Bint Al Mustakfi, Jalal al-Din Rumi, Omar Khayyam, poets and writers from the such as Al Hallaj, Mahmoud Darwish, Gibran Khalil Gibran, Ahlam Mosteghanemi, Rabiaa Al Adawiyya, Gunter Grass, Pablo Neruda and Lorca. The music will take the listener on a journey to discover Maqamaat, in addition to Andalusian Muwashahat inspired mainly by Arabic poetry
21 December 2017
8:00 pm
‘The Gift’
A shadow puppetry show titled “The Gift” presented by Arab Puppet Theatre. The show brings to Mother of the Nation’s park the story of a gift’s journey from the Abbasid Islamic times, where an elephant (the gift) traveled from Bagdad to Europe as a token of friendship from Abbasid Khalifa Harun Al Rashid to King Charlemagne. The puppet show brings an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat shadow puppets.
Inspired by Hooda Shawa Al Qaddumi’s novel The Elephant’s Trip, The Gift is a magical tale that centres around the special bond between Ishaq, a dedicated elephant keeper and his at times mischievous protégé, Abou Al-Abbas and their epic journey, based on actual events.
Performed by Mahmoud AlHourani, Racha Khalil, Mohamed Elyes, and Ahmed Isa from the Arab Puppet Theatre.
Children’s Garden – Mother of The Nation Park
Date: December 23 .2017
Time: 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Light show
As part of the celebrations of Arabic Language Day through the Literature and Music Festival, selected poems from the festival’s performances will be adorned on the façade of Manarat Al Saadiyat as part of the light show of the festival.
Manarat Al Saadiyat
18 – 23 December 2017
6 pm to 12 am
