Tétouan celebrates launch of 6th Moroccan Poets Festival

Sharjah 24

10-05-2025

The festival, organised by the Department of Culture in Sharjah in collaboration with Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, will run for three days and features the participation of more than 40 Moroccan poets, intellectuals, and artists.
The opening ceremony took place at Teatro Español in the heart of Tétouan, with the attendance of His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the department; Abdelrazzaq Mansouri, Governor of Tétouan; and Zhour Umahouche, Regional Director of Culture, representing Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd. Also present were a large audience of writers, academics, university students, and poetry enthusiasts.
The event was hosted by Mokhles Essaghir, poet and Director of the House of Poetry in Tétouan, who welcomed the guests and highlighted that the Houses of Poetry have become a cornerstone in the Arab cultural scene thanks to the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah. He emphasised that the festival brings together some of the most prominent poetic voices in Morocco, and over the years has seen participation from hundreds of poets.
In his remarks, Al Owais underscored poetry's essential role in expressing identity and cultural values, stating: "A new edition of the Tétouan Moroccan Poets Festival is upon us, and we are filled with joy and renewed energy. This special cultural event reaffirms the pioneering role of poetry in expressing rich cultural identity and values. The House of Poetry in Tétouan has devoted its efforts to gathering Moroccan poets, both established and emerging, giving them a platform to share their creativity and enrich this beloved country with the fragrance of poetry and art."
Speaking on the activities of the House of Poetry in Tétouan, Al Owais added: "Tétouan continues to serve as a beacon of creativity and a meeting point for writers and poets. This annual literary gathering is the culmination of a season filled with poetic readings, critical discussions, and the publication of new poetry collections—an initiative that enhances the status of poetry and literature and encourages further creative expression. This ongoing partnership between Sharjah's Department of Culture and Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication is a reflection of the strong brotherly ties between the UAE and Morocco, under the wise leadership of both nations."
Al Owais also conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the festival's participants, saying: "I am honuored to extend to you the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and his wishes for your success and fulfillment."
Representing Minister Bensaïd, Zhour Umahouche delivered a speech in which she praised the Sharjah initiative of establishing Houses of Poetry, saying: "I greatly value the initiative of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in founding Houses of Poetry across the Arab world. This has led to a qualitative shift in the Arab cultural scene. I also extend heartfelt thanks to our brothers in the Department of Culture in Sharjah for their ongoing pan-Arab efforts."
She continued: "On behalf of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, I warmly welcome you to a new edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival, hosted by the House of Poetry in Tétouan—an institution that exemplifies the close collaboration between our Ministry and the Department of Culture in Sharjah."
Quoting Minister Bensaïd, she added: "The House of Poetry was established in this city, which has long been a cradle of poetic and cultural modernity in Morocco and the Arab world since the early 20th century. It is a city open to Arab and diaspora poetic experiences and in dialogue with European achievements across the Mediterranean. Tétouan stands today as a capital of Arabic poetry and a beacon of literary modernity. We recognize the leading role the House of Poetry plays in preserving the cultural and poetic spirit of this ancient city—recognised as a World Heritage Site—and we salute its residents for embracing the festival since its inception."
Umahouche noted that this year's edition features a diverse lineup of poetry and artistic events, with poets representing various regions and poetic traditions of Morocco, including Arabic, Amazigh, Hassani, and other living languages. "This rich diversity is rooted in Tétouan's history and cultural identity, shaped by its Amazigh, Arab, and Andalusian heritage, its deep African ties, and its Mediterranean outlook."
Tributes
In line with its tradition of honouring Moroccan creators, the current edition of the festival paid tribute to poet Salah El Wadie and literary critic Houria El Khamlichi.
Born in 1952, El Wadie is considered one of the leading voices in contemporary Arabic poetry. His works include
The Wounds of a Bare Chest
and
There Is Still Something Worth Noticing in the Heart
.
El Khamlichi is a prominent Moroccan writer, critic, and academic known for her contributions to Arabic literary thought.
Both honourees expressed deep gratitude to Sharjah and the House of Poetry in Tétouan, viewing the recognition as a testament to the value of the written word and a sustained support for Moroccan and Arab cultural life.
Certificates and commemorative plaques were presented by Al Owais, Al Qaseer, Umahouche, and Mansouri.
Poetry Readings
The opening event featured readings by three poets: Salah El Wadie, Khadija Al-Masoudi, and Othman Al-Haichou..
Debut Poetry Collection Award
The House of Poetry in Tétouan announced the winners of the sixth edition of its
Debut Poetry Collection Award for Young Poets – Tétouan
.
This prize reflects the House's dedication to discovering and supporting emerging poetic talent by publishing the winning collections.
This year's winners were:
Ali Badoun
(First Prize) for
Crawling on the Thorns of Dreams
,
Mohamed Al-Fattouh
(Second Prize) for
I Am a Secret That Came from Silence
, and
Mohamed Aghzait
(Third Prize) for
Scattered Prayers.
The winners received certificates of recognition from Al Owais, Al Qaseer, and Umahouche.
Arabic Language Pioneers Contest
In a new initiative aimed at fostering a love for the Arabic language among children, the House of Poetry in Tétouan launched a regional competition titled
Arabic Language Pioneers Contest
. The goal is to nurture young people's expressive skills—both spoken and written—through poetry recitation, expressive reading, and short story writing.
This effort seeks to strengthen the presence of Arabic in the consciousness of the younger generation and instill an appreciation for its beauty and creativity. More than ten young girls from various Moroccan cities won in the inaugural edition, and they were honoured with certificates amidst warm public applause.
Musical Performance
The event concluded with a live musical performance by Moroccan singer Nabila Maan, who presented a set of traditional and popular songs that were enthusiastically received by the audience.
Teatro Español
It's worth noting that Teatro Español was built in 1914. Located in Tétouan's old city, near the Royal Palace and the Archaeological Museum, the historic venue and its surroundings have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.