The 41st Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is showcasing the iconic works and celebrating the lyrical, haunting and creative legacy of Palestine’s most eminent poet, Mahmoud Darwish, at a dedicated pavilion at Expo Centre Sharjah from November 2 -13.

The pavilion will be managed by the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation, which is participating for the first time at SIBF.

The Foundation will showcase both Darwish’s poetry and prose works, along with various multimedia materials. Recited in his own voice, extracts of his poems will be displayed on a screen. The Foundation will also organise open discussions with visitors to highlight the critical role that prominent Arab personalities play in regional and global cultures and will introduce the pavilion’s visitors to the late poet’s successful career and prolific works.

As part of its endeavour to share experiences and preserve copyrights of the celebrated works of Mahmoud Darwish in cooperation with Arab and international publishers, the Foundation will also participate in the SIBF Publishers Conference to facilitate the translation of his previously untranslated works into foreign languages.  

Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SIBF, said: “Held under the theme ‘Spread the Word,’ SIBF 2022 provides its visitors with an incredible opportunity to recall the life of the iconic Palestinian poet, whose distinctive writings are very popular and well-respected among all Arab readers. Like his voice, his inspiring poems will never die.”

Fathi Al Biss, Director General of the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation, said: “In line with the Foundation’s mission, our participation at SIBF 2022 aims to introduce to visitors our efforts in reviving Mahmoud Darwish’s creative legacy, and our role in preserving and promoting it, so that it continues to remain popular among new generations of readers.”