Gibran International Festival Scheduled for May 23-30, 1970 The American University of Beirut is making plans for a Gibran Festival to honor the great Lebanese poet, Khalil Gibran, who made a significant contribution to the development of modern Arabic poetry, but is perhaps better known in the West for his mystical poetry in English, notably "The Prophet." The' Festival is scheduled for the week of May 23 to 30, I97 0 . Last year the Department of English and the Department of Arabic conceived the idea of holding a festival to honor Gibran. It was thought especiallyappropriate that the AUB, an American university situated in Lebanon, should sponsor such a festival, because although Gibran was born at Becherri in north Lebanon, and achieved early recognition as a writer in Arabic, he emigrated to the United States and with the publication of his long mystical poem in English, "The Prophet," became equally well-known in the Englishspeaking world. The D~partment of English and the Department of Arabic began making plans for the Festival, which they hoped would not only do honor to a great poet, but also symbolise their mutual intention to further the comparative study of English and Arabic literature. Soon it became apparent that interest in Gibran extended much further than the AUB campus. After an announcement in the "New York Times" of August II, 1969, that AUB was sponsoring a Gibran Festival, letters of enquiry came pouring in from overseas. It was decided to enlarge the Festival's activities, and it is now a truly international event under the patronage of His Excellency President Charles Helou, President of the Republic of Lebanon. The date of the Festival was fixed for the week beginning May 23 and ending May 30, I970. The Ministry of Tourism, the National Council for Tourism, Middle East Airlines and the Lebanese World Community cooperated generously, and gradually the program began to take shape. Plans for the Festival now include a lecture by Mr. Mikhail Naimy, the well-
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known Lebanese writer and close friend of Gibran, who is the Festival's Distinguished Guest of Honor, and other lectures by members of the AUB Departments of English and Arabic. Negotiations with the American Embassy and the British Council are also under way to bring to the Festival several well-known American and British poets and critics, all of whom have some special connection with Gibran. The lectures will be published in book form on the last day of the Festival, and a German publishing house has already sought permission to bring out a German translation. There will also be an exhibition illustrating the development of Gibran's life and work, which will include over 400 photographs, books, manuscripts and paintings. An evening entertainment is also being planned at which Gibran's poetry will be read in both English and Arabic, and it is hoped that Feyrouz, the great Lebanese singer, will sing some of Gibran's poems which have been set to music.
Other events include poetry-readings, panel-discussions, seminars, a day-long visit to the poet's birthplace, now a national museum, and a tour through the surrounding countryside. Edited by Professors Suheil Bushrui, John Munro and Marcus Smith, all of the English Department at AUB, a book entitled "A Poet and His Country," will be published in time for the Festival, which will include numerous illustrations, drawing attention to Gibran's Lebanese heritage. Another publication, a collection of Gibran criticism, is now nearing completion, and will also be on sale. Negotiations are also under way to make a film about Gibran; the Lebanese Broadcasting Station has promised radio and television coverage. The Festival Advisory Committee, which includes many prominent members of the Lebanese community, is under the Chairmanship of AUB Vice President George Hakim, who is also Festival Director, while the Organising Committee, which includes members of the Department of English, the Department of Arabic, the AUB Library, the Offices of Information, Development, and Alumni Affairs, and Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim Yazbek of Middle East Airlines, is under the Chairmanship of Professor John Munro, with Professor Suheil Bushrui as Secretary to whom all enquiries should be addressed.
President Charles Helou October 21 received a delegation headed by Vice President George Hakim representing the Gibran International Festival. Organizing Committee. President Helou agreed to extend his patronage to the Festival. The picture shows (left to right). Dr. Nabil Dajani. Prof. John Munro. President Helou. Vice President Hakim. and Prof. Suhail Bushrui.