2023 represented an exceptional year for Saudi culture, and observers of the internal and external scene were not surprised that our culture would reach the pinnacle of prominence on the quantitative and qualitative levels of activities, programs and initiatives that reinforce the ambitious national transformation project, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the faithful Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (may God protect them).
The culture of production and creativity represented our national values and Arab morals, and contemporary technologies employed their capabilities in the service of authenticity, to become a component of the quality of civil life with all its aspects, expressing the richness of the place, the richness of the human being, and the uniqueness of the time, especially in light of the belief in the role of the avant-garde intellectual and the poetic writer. And the brilliant artist, as they are the cultural capital, the founder of a creative start that keeps up with all the achievements, with the windows it opened, and the paths it renewed for creative energies belonging to an ancient heritage, and noble traditions belonging to 13 regions rich in their terrain, climate, and folklore, and here we roam our local, Gulf, Arab, and global space; Let us trace the most prominent features of the cultural action in this Gregorian year. Who is about to close the last pages of his days.
Despite the great reservation that bordered on suspicion and betrayal of the idea of adopting “philosophy” in curricula and academic curricula in our country, and the contribution of traditional discourses in alienating it, “Umm al-Ulum” has today become the focus of activities and initiatives, which has consolidated cognitive foundations that contribute to raising human and moral awareness and promoting the values of coexistence and tolerance. Through dialogue and the development of thinking skills, and on the seventh of this December, the Literature Association and the Philosophy Society launched the Third Philosophy Conference in the capital (Riyadh), in which more than 80 specialized researchers participated and discussed, over a period of three days, the developments in philosophical thought and its modern applications, which enabled… For a free proposal, the answer to horizons and spaces, allowed all societal groups to build bridges of communication with figures of thought, which enabled the Philosophy Society to join the International Union of Philosophy.
Abu Al-Funun regains his breath in Riyadh
Saudi theater brought down the curtain on the era of equivocation and estrangement that it had suffered for decades, and returned to the forefront under official sponsorship. A few days ago, the Riyadh Theater Festival concluded its first session, which was organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Authority, and lasted 12 days, organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Authority at the Princess University Conference Center. Noura bint Abdul Rahman, and the State of Tunisia was guest of honor, and competed for 11 awards, 10 plays by Saudi theater groups, from various regions of the Kingdom, selected from among 100, and the plays are: the play (Sea) by the Al-Ahsa Culture and Arts Association troupe, (it achieved first place) And the play (The Stone) by the First Jump Club band, (The Vanguard of Abandonment) by the Close Media Band, (A Slap) by the Kalos Band, and (The Devil’s Memory) by the Vision Band, in addition to (Light) by the Taif Theater, and (The Newspaper Seller) by the Fun Box Band. (Yellow Memory) by Nawras Band, (Closed Roundabout) by Masma Theater Club, and (The Last Shadow) by Al-Watan Theater Troupe. The festival celebrated the experience of the theatrical pioneer (Muhammad Al-Othaim) by presenting a play he wrote, and songs from his words that were sung by Arwa Saudi Arabia. An art exhibition was held dedicated to his artistic career, and a documentary film was presented telling his biography in the theater.
The seventh art from estrangement to revival
After times of drought, the seventh art returned to life in Saudi festivals, not the last of which was the Red Sea Film Festival. Which concluded its third session on December 9 in Jeddah. It brought together prominent stars, directors, and filmmakers from all over the world, and hopes and aspirations were renewed, with moves that put Saudi filmmakers on the threshold of competition for international awards.
Diwan Al Arab takes the lead for a whole year
Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, confirmed that the Council of Ministers’ approval to name the year 2023 “The Year of Arab Poetry” represents a celebration of the pivotal value of poetry in Arab culture throughout Arab history.
The initiative came to revive the ancient history of the Diwan al-Arab, to enhance its contributions to human creativity, to establish its successful traditions, and to give it a deserved place among the world’s literatures and arts. The poets’ journeys highlight literary and touristic gains within the journeys of Arab poetry, and shed light on the lives of poets. Among them are Hatem Al-Ta’i in the city of Hail, the journey of Imru’ Al-Qays in the city of Riyadh, the journey of (Qafa Nabak), the journey of Qais bin Al-Malouh, the journey of Laila Al-Amiriyah, the journey of Tarfa bin Al-Abd, and the journey of Al-Amanah, which recalled the biography and life of the poet, through visual displays documenting the journey of the poets and their poems. The spatial space enhances poetry and aesthetic values.
4 exhibitions that do justice to the history of “Khair Jalees”
This year witnessed a boom in book fairs, which did justice to the history of (Khair Jalees), starting with the (Writers and Readers) Festival in the Eastern Province, the Medina Book Fair, the Riyadh International Book Fair, and the Jeddah Book Fair.
Literary Partner, the newest imprint of popular culture
She attended Literary Partner cafés this year, to break the elitism of culture, and meet with general members of society, in a space devoid of official protocols. There were more than 80 cafés, offering nearly five thousand events within a year.
Korean Choi Young wins the King Faisal Award for Service to Islam
The King Faisal International Award, this year’s Service to Islam Award, was awarded equally to the former Professor of Islamic Studies at Myeongji and Hankuk Universities of Foreign Studies in South Korea and the President of the Korean Islamic Endowment Fund, Choi Young Kil Hamid; For his translation of a large number of Islamic books and his advocacy efforts, and for the Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic University of Niger, the Emirati Ambassador Nasser bin Abdullah Al Zaabi; For his efforts in charitable and relief work, the British Professor Robert Hillenbrand received the award for the branch of Islamic Studies and its subject (Islamic Architecture). Because his works are distinguished by their broad comprehensiveness geographically and temporally, the Moroccan Dr. Abdel Fattah Kilito deserves the Prize for Arabic Language and Literature (Ancient Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories). For his prowess in interpreting ancient Arabic narrative works through extensive studies, the Medicine Prize (Epidemics and Vaccine Development) went jointly to the American Dan Hone Borok and the Briton Sarah Catherine Gilbert. For their great contributions to the study and development of vaccines. The Chemistry Award was jointly awarded to American Jackie Yi-Ru Ying and American Chad Alexander Mirkin for their contributions to the manufacture of advanced nanomaterials, systems and applications, and presenting the concept of nanoparticles made of atoms and DNA to form bonds to create and design macroscopic functional crystalline materials.
Irishman Lynch and Omani Al Qasimi steal the poker
Irish writer Paul Lynch won the Booker International Prize 2023 for his novel (A Prophet’s Song – Prophet’s Song). Which revolves around the story of a family and a country on the brink of disaster, while the Omani novelist Zahran Al Qasimi won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (Booker), for his novel (The Exile of the Wanderer).
Norwegian Jon Fosse returns the Nobel Prize for Literature to the Scandinavian island
Norwegian writer Jon Fosse won the 2023 Nobel Prize for Literature, and the Swedish Academy – which awards the prize – said that it chose him “for his innovative plays and prose that give voice to what cannot be said.” The Academy added that Fosse’s works “combine the nature of his Norwegian background with artistic-literary technique,” and praised him for “revealing human anxiety and contradiction in the human essence” in his works, which amounted to nearly 40 works, and considered him one of the most widely performed playwrights in the world, and he is becoming increasingly famous for his prose works. .
Al Owais Award for an Egyptian, an Iraqi, a Bahraini, and a Moroccan
The eighteenth Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award (2022-2023) was won by the critical poet Dr. Hassan Talab, the Bahraini writer Amin Saleh, the Iraqi critic Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim, and the Moroccan thinker Abdelsalam Benabdel Ali.
French literary awards… a favor for women
The French writer Jean-Baptiste Andrea won the French Literary Prize Goncourt for his novel (I Take Care of Her), published by the publishing house Leconoclast. The Renaudot Prize went to the French novelist Anne Scott for her novel The Impudent, published by the publishing house Kalman Lévy. He won the prize ( Medicis) category for the novel written in French, the young Canadian writer Kevin Lambert for his novel (May Our Joy Continue), and the Foreign Novel Award was awarded, equally to the Portuguese writer Lydia Giorgi for her novel (Pity) and the South Korean writer Han Kang for her novel (The Impossible Farewell). The Best Literary Article Award was given to Laure Mora for her book (Proust, a Family Novel).
French writer Neige Sinno was crowned with the Femina Prize for her novel (The Sad Tiger) in the French Novel category, while American Louise Erdich won the award in the Foreign Novel category for her novel (The Boy’s Punishment).
Spanish awards… between Japan and Uruguay
The Spanish Miguel de Cervantes Prize went to the Spanish poet and novelist Luis Mateo Deis. Which the Spanish Minister of Culture described as: “Innovator of imaginary worlds and lands.”
The Princess of Asturias Prize for Literature was awarded to the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. Which the award jury attributed to his being distinguished by “a unique literature, an international reputation, and the ability to reconcile Japanese traditions with the legacy of Western culture in an ambitious and innovative narrative,” and his ability to express: “some of the greatest themes and conflicts of our time: loneliness, existential uncertainty.” “The brutality of big cities and terrorism.”
The Uruguayan poet Cerci Maya won the Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize, while the Planta Prize went to the Spanish writer Sonsólis Onega for her novel The Maid’s Daughters.
Winners of British and German literary awards
In Britain, the novel “The Shelter of Time” by Bulgarian novelist Georgi Gospodinov won the Man Booker International Prize, which is awarded to novels translated into English.
This year, the German Georg Büchner Prize was awarded to the German poet Lutz Seller, and the Indian writer Tonio Schachinger won the German Book Prize, within the activities of the Frankfurt International Book Fair, for his novel (A True Age).
Katara and Naguib Mahfouz
The Katara Award for Arabic Novel announced that: Egyptian Ashraf Al-Ashmawy won for his novel (The Secret Society of Citizens), Rasha Adly for her novel (You Shine, You Shine), and Omani Muhammad Al-Yahyaei for his novel (The War) among the published Arabic novels.
The award was won in the (unpublished novels) category: the Egyptian Rami Raafat for his novel (Komala, Son of Fire…and his journey in the kingdoms of the mighty), the Syrian Muhammad Turki Al-Dafis for his novel (A City Inhabited by Madness), and the Algerian Mustafa Bouri for his novel (The Final Rehearsals).
The Naguib Mahfouz Award was won by the Egyptian, Ibrahim Al-Farghali, for his novel (The Train Reader), and the Palestinian, Hassan Hamid, for his novel, (The Little Naguni). While the Tayeb Salih Award, in the novel category, went to: the Egyptian writer Alia Abdel Mawla Heikal for the novel (Exiting from the Well), the Sudanese writer Mansour Idris Hassan Muhammad for the novel (Blue Moss), and the Egyptian Adel Saad Muhammad Saad for the novel ( The world is nothing but a big stage.)
In the short story category, the award went to: the Iraqi writer Maytham Hashem Taher for his collection (The Sham of Tigers), the Egyptian writer Omaima Ezzedine for her collection (The Dead Do Not Welcome the Morning), and her compatriot Asmaa Shafi’ Abdel Hadi Awad for her short story collection (The Woman of Stone).
The departure of Alwan, Naqshbandi, and Zayed confuses the poem, the novel, and the story
The current year did not want to go by without leaving a pain in the chest, a lump in the heart, a tone of sadness in the voice, and the pain of separation in the features. What confused the poem, the novel, and the story was the passing of three Saudi writing icons, the storyteller Muhammad Ali Alwan, and the novelist Hani Naqshbandi. And the poet Mohammed Zayed Al-Almai.
2023 The first female princess of poets was installed
The year 2023 did not spare creative women, as it appointed the Omani poet Aisha Al-Saifi (Princess of Poets) through the most famous program Prince of Poets in its tenth season. She was the first woman to achieve this title, and Al-Saifi has 4 poetry collections: (The Sea Changes Its Shirts) 2014, and (The Girl’s Dreams). Ten) 2016, (I Do Not Love My Father) 2017, and (On the Thirty of Its Palms) 2022, and it has its own mesmerizing presence, poetically and culturally.
