If you’re heading to The London Book Fair in April, join us at these Cultural Programme events.
All the following events take place at Olympia Conference Centre, London. Book your ticket for The London Book Fair!
H.E. Omar Ghobash in Conversation
Tuesday 5 April 2022, 11.05-11.50
Literary Translation Centre, Olympia
H.E. Omar Ghobash is an author, champion of Arabic literature on the global stage as well as currently serving as Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy in the UAE Foreign Ministry. His book Letters to a Young Muslim (Picador, 2018) is an exploration of the complexities of life as a modern Muslim, written as a series of letters to his son. He will be discussing his career in writing, making the shift from non-fiction to fiction as well as the importance of ensuring Arabic titles are translated and made available to readers around the world.
Dr. Abdulaziz AlMusallam in Conversation
Tuesday 5 April 2022, 12.00-12.45
English PEN Literary Salon, Olympia
Dr Abdulaziz AlMusallam is an Emirati novelist, writer, researcher and consultant in cultural heritage and has written extensively on Emirati culture, fairy tales, folk memory and Nabati poetry. He is chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and is known for his research and scientific interests in the Gulf and Arab cultural heritage. Dr Abdulaziz AlMusallam will be talking about his career as a writer and the unique storytelling traditions of the UAE.
H.E. Mohammad Al-Murr in Conversation
Tuesday 5 April 2022, 16.30-17.15
English PEN Literary Salon, Olympia
H.E. Mohammad Al-Murr is a renowned Emirati short story writer having published over fifteen collections. His stories, which he has described as a ‘mixed bag of realism, romance and sarcasm’, aim to reflect modern Emirati society. He will be discussing on the changing literary landscape of the UAE and the relationship between modern Emirati writing and its rich literary heritage.
Emirati Women Writers: Shaping the Country's Literary Scene
Wednesday 6 April 2022, 11.30-12.30
Sharjah Market Focus Stand, Olympia
In the Emirates women publish their works alongside men. Their stories concern social matters, history, folklore, science fiction, poetry, children's literature and many others. They enter into social debates on the present and future of the country. Two prominent women writers Dr. Afra Atiq and Dubai Abulhoul from UAE will share their thoughts on the subject and personal experiences representing female writers from the country.
Author of the Day: Dr. Afra Atiq in Conversation
Wednesday 6 April 2022, 13.30-14.15
English PEN Literary Salon, Olympia
Market Focus ‘Author of the Day’ Dr Afra Atiq is an Emirati poet, spoken word artist, and PhD candidate. With a passion for languages, she writes and performs in a blend of bilingual and trilingual poems in English, Arabic, and French. Afra’s work has been featured on numerous international platforms alongside local showcases such as PublisHer summit, and Louvre Abu Dhabi. Community and education are a vital part of Afra’s work, inspiring her doctoral research into Instagram and the Arab literary ecosystem. She is a founding member of a thriving community of Emirati female writers called Untitled Chapters. She will be appearing in conversation with poet, playwright and author Joelle Taylor.
Khalid AlBudoor in Conversation
Thursday 7 April 2022, 10.30-11.15
English PEN Literary Salon, Olympia
Khalid AlBudoor is considered one of the most important names in the modern poetry movement of the UAE. AlBudoor has been publishing poetry for more than 40 years and has been active in the writing community, helping to establish the Emirati Writers’ Union and participating in poetry festivals in the UAE and abroad. He is also an expert on the UAE’s oral heritage, Nabati poetry, traditional music, and storytelling.
Arabic and English Translation: Trends and Possibilities
Thursday 7 April 2022, 14.20-15.05
Literary Translation Centre, Olympia
How do we discover, create, and speak to new audiences with literature they don't know they'd love? This panel will discuss the diversity of Arabic literature, current growth areas in the field, and those genres and subjects that are yet to be explored. Our specialist speakers will discuss the potential for raising awareness of Arabic literature in translation and the possibilities that exist for writers, translators and publishers looking to reach new audiences.
H.E. Omar Ghobash is a founding trustee of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and the sponsor of the Saif Ghobash-Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation. Nariman Youssef is a Cairo-born, London-based translator and manages a translation team at the British Library. Marilyn Booth holds the Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud Chair for the Study of the Contemporary Arab World, Oriental Institute and Magdalen College, Oxford. Chaired by Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager at the literature development agency New Writing North where he leads on development programmes for writers and translators.
Dubai Abulhoul in Conversation
Thursday 7 April 2022, 14.30-15.15
English PEN Literary Salon, Olympia
Dubai Abulhoul is and Emirati writer and journalist. She recently published a series of six children's books which introduce key figures of Emirati folklore to younger generations, and aim to preserve Emirati folktales, which have previously only been passed down verbally from one generation to another. Dubai will appear in conversation with Tamara Macfarlane to discuss what these traditional stories have to offer readers today.
