Casablanca is hosting poets from four continents, remembering the late Moroccan poet Aniba El Hamri in discussions about the necessity of translation, from May 1 to May 4.
The “International Casablanca Poetry Festival” kicks off its inaugural edition today, Thursday, with the presence of poets, researchers, translators, journalists, and cultural activists from Morocco, the United States, the Netherlands, Iraq, Egypt, Peru, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, India, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Indonesia, honoring the late Moroccan poet Mohammed Aniba El Hamri.
In addition to a multitude of poetic voices and experiences, the event features a seminar titled “Intersecting Poetic Voices: Dynamics of Translation and Interpretation,” aiming, as per its introductory paper, “to create a space for dialogue among the world’s cultures, through engagement with the latest developments in poetic writing across various countries, both in terms of content and themes as well as technical transformations.”
This new cultural and literary event seeks to highlight Moroccan specificity and bring the world closer to the achievements of Moroccan poetry, showcasing poets from different generations who engage actively with global cultures while preserving authenticity and identity.
The festival activities will take place across Casablanca, including the Grand Hall of the Fortin Hotel, Boujemaa Theater, and several educational institutions. Participating Moroccan poets include Idris Issa, Mohammed Boujebiri, Mohammed Aziz Al-Hosseini, Iman Al-Khatabi, Mohammed Abed, Idris Aloush, Fadwa Al-Zayani, Sabah Al-Dabi, Amin Zikanoun, Mohammed Motna, Hafiza Al-Farsi, Dami Omar, Al-Zubeir Khayat, Rashid Al-Khadiri, and Aboubakr Lamlety.
Among the critics and researchers attending are Mohammed Alout, Abdel Aziz Koukass, Omar Al-Asri, Azeddine Bourka, Said Muntasib, Anis Al-Rafii, Hassan Nraiss, Mohammed Khafifi, and Samih Aineba, the son of the late poet.
Representing Lebanon is Abbas Beydoun, from Egypt is Mahmoud Sharaf, from Iraq are Abdul Hadi Al-Saadoun and Shaalan Sharif, from Syria is Marwan Ali, from Tunisia is Radwan Al-Ajroudi, from the UAE is Maryam Al-Zarouni, and from Kuwait is Nashmi Mahna. The International Casablanca Poetry Festival also features participants like George Wallace from the USA, Sunith Mandal from India, Amin Kamil from Indonesia, Rick Van Boekel from the Netherlands, and Karina Manoun from Peru.
It is noteworthy that the “International Casablanca Poetry Festival” is managed by writer and cultural activist Abdel Rahman Choukib, with the organization team including writer and researcher Abdel Hadi Naeem, poet and translator Mohammed Al-Amin Al-Karkhi, and poet and journalist Abdel Rahim Al-Khosar.
