Sana'a: The activities and competitions of the 13th "Greatest Messenger Festival for Artistic and Cultural Creativity" began today in the capital Sana'a, with the opening of the "Nasheed for Adults" and "Arabic Poetry" competitions.
According to Yemen News Agency, in the Nasheed for Adults competition, Yousef Al-Aghbari, Iyad Shamsan, and Murad Al-Akeeshi from the capital Sana'a competed. The judging panel for the competition, composed of nasheed performers Osama Al-Ameer, Abdulazim Ezzeldin, Ali Mohsen Al-Akwa', and critic Muhammad Aqeel, praised the contestants' performances in the first round and provided them with feedback to improve their performance in the upcoming rounds.
In the Arabic Poetry competition, Hassan Al-Murtada, Muhammad Al-Sameei, and Mazen Jarrad competed, presenting poetic pieces in praise of the Prophet. The judging panel, composed of poets Abdulhafeez Al-Khazan, Daifullah Al-Darib, and Dr. Ibrahim Talha, acknowledged the contestants' offerings in love for the Greatest Messenger (peace be upon him and his family).
During the first day's event, a medley clip titled "Al-Mustafa Muhammad" by nasheed performer Ammar Al-Sheikh was screened, along with flash segments titled "Muhammad the Messenger of God and a Shining Lamp," which addressed stations from the noble Prophet's life (PBUH), his jihad, and the rise of the divine message.
The first day's program included prize giveaways for the audience present in the festival hall, which was filled with lovers of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), reflecting the broad engagement with the festival's activities. The event concluded with a theatrical performance titled "Dialogue with a Dead Man," featuring a group of Yemeni drama and arts stars, which earned the appreciation of the attending audience. Theatrical performances are considered standout segments in the festival's editions, eagerly anticipated by the audience.