Sana'a: The first Al-Bardouni Festival, titled "The Sightful in the Blind Age," concluded in Sana'a with a series of seminars, honors, and the signing of important literary works. Over three days, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with support from the Cultural Heritage and Development Fund, hosted this event celebrating the renowned Yemeni poet Abdullah Al-Bardouni. The festival aimed to explore various facets of the poet's life and work, culminating in a closing ceremony filled with cultural and intellectual discussions.
According to Yemen News Agency, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abdullah Al-Washli, highlighted the importance of this festival, emphasizing that the event included the signing of Al-Bardouni's complete collection of poems and the book "Cultural Affairs." These publications mark a significant step in preserving and promoting the poet's legacy. The festival also honored individuals and entities that contributed to publishing Al-Bardouni's works, including the writer and literary figure Muhammad Al-Qa'ood.
Al-Washli expressed hope that this year's festival would be the beginning of an annual tradition, aiming to honor Abdullah Al-Bardouni's contributions to Yemeni and Arab poetry. He underscored the Ministry's commitment to ensuring future festivals are even more impactful, highlighting the poet's role in articulating the hopes and aspirations of the Yemeni people.
The seminars featured four working papers presented by eminent scholars and writers. Abdulrahman Murad, Head of the General Book Authority, discussed the poet's book "Cultural Affairs," while Dr. Khaled Al-Shami from Sana'a University examined Al-Bardouni's engagement with Yemen's social realities. Writer Mohammed Al-Shamiri explored the poet's responses to aggression, and Judge Ziyad Al-Salmi delved into Al-Bardouni's poem "The Journey of a Son Whose Horns Have Grown Grey," offering insights into its future-oriented themes.
The festival's conclusion emphasized the event's role as a cultural and intellectual celebration of Al-Bardouni's work. The statement issued at the end reiterated the festival's commitment to making Al-Bardouni's poetic and intellectual contributions accessible to future generations. It called for the annual organization of the Al-Bardouni Festival to continually explore the poet's legacy from new perspectives, transforming it into a national and Arab cultural platform for dialogue.
The statement also proposed initiatives such as creating a digital archive of Al-Bardouni's works, establishing an "Al-Bardouni Festival Award for Literary Studies," and supporting the development of the "Al-Bardouni Museum." These efforts aim to ensure that Al-Bardouni's heritage remains a vibrant subject of research and creativity.
Additionally, the festival called for translating Al-Bardouni's works into various languages to expand his reach beyond the Arab world. It also encouraged academic institutions to deepen research into his poetic and intellectual contributions, emphasizing Al-Bardouni's engagement with themes of heritage, modernity, and human dignity.
The festival concluded with the honoring of Muhammad Al-Qa'ood for his role in compiling "Cultural Affairs." The event, marked by the publication of Al-Bardouni's complete works, celebrated the poet's enduring impact on Yemeni and Arab culture. The festival's activities, ranging from seminars to dialogue sessions, provided a platform for participants to engage with Al-Bardouni's rich literary and intellectual heritage, setting the stage for future explorations of his legacy.