ADIBF Newsletter No.7

29 May ISSUE NO.7

23-29.05.2022

SHOW DAILY German Pavilion: A Story of Interaction, Partnership and Success

German Pavilion: A Story of Interaction, Partnership and Success

The German Experience

in Museum Management at ADIBF

Germany’s participation as the Guest of Honour country at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) offered a rich programme of events and activities introducing the public to German culture, contemporary cinema and arts.

Germany participates on the 29th of May in a special session on museums and their role in society. The session is entitled: “Open Minds and Renewed Cultures: the Role of Museums in Enhancing Community Engagement,” set to take place at 11:00AM on the Main Stage. It sheds the light on museums’ experiences in moving away from the collections display to interacting with their local communities and communicating with various sectors of society. The session also highlights the German experience in museum management combining culture with experience. The guest speakers are: Manuel Rabaté, Director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Dr Dorothea Schöne, Director of the Kunsthaus Dahlem in Berlin.

Germany participates in the Black Box Cinema programme with a short feature film JEIJAY, at 6PM. The eight-minute film directed by Maren Wiese and Petra Stipetic tells the story of a woman and a man trying to repress the slow but inevitable decay of their relationship. Trapped in the isolation of their small apartment, they realize that the facade of their happy love life is crumbling. The story here begins where most love stories end, examining how the meaning of classic intimate togetherness is changing in today’s world.

Creative Works by German Writers, Thinkers and Artists Visitors to ADIBF also get acquainted with the most prominent German authors, thinkers and artists, including but not restricted to, the German poet, playwright, novelist and scientist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose literary work have had a profound and wide influence on Western literary, political and philosophical thought from the late 18th century to the present day.

Germany’s cultural programme witnessed the participation of around 35 publishing houses and nearly 80 intellectuals, artists and publishers in over 40 diverse cultural and professional sessions, in addition to many activities that further highlighted the close bilateral cultural relations between the UAE and Germany.

Germany’s participation in the Black Box Cinema included 7 feature and documentary film screenings (a film a day at 6PM) which helped shed more light on German culture and contemporary cinema.

Germany Professional Programme

As a complement to the ADIBF Professional programme, Germany will also hold its own Professional programme at the German pavilion, this one aimed at addressing topics relevant to the Arab market and intending to encourage greater exchange through the matchmaking of international publishers with potential business partners in the Arab world.

Twenty or more publishers and authors will participate, including such names as Constanze Neumann (Aufbau Verlag), Jo Lendle (Hanser), and Nadja Kneissler (Delius Klasing). The programme will be discussing topics like educational publishing, sustainability in publishing, digitisation, and more.

Enduring Partnership

HE Ernst Peter Fischer, the German ambassador to the UAE, expressed his appreciation for his country being chosen the Guest of Honour at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), stressing the depth of the historical relations between the UAE and Germany and the efforts made for their development in various sectors.

“This year, Germany and the United Arab Emirates celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. We have become key and reliable partners to each other,” he said. And added, “We look forward to the next 50 years and the new opportunities they will bring in the cultural, the economic and political sectors.” He went on to point that “Germany’s selection as the Guest of Honour for the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair confirms the depth of our cultural relations.”

“The depth of the Emirati-German relations opens up the potential for exploring new horizons of cultural, intellectual and scientific cooperation,” said Juergen Boos, the President and CEO of Frankfurt Book Fair, noting that Germany’s regular presence at ADIBF expresses Germany’s interest in developing enduring bilateral relations with the UAE. A number of German authors were invited to participate at ADIBF such as Olga Grjasnowa, winner of the Anna Seghers-Preis award, whose most recent novel “The Prodigal Son” achieved tremendous critical and public acclaim in Germany.

Germany’s Participation at 31st ADIBF in Numbers

80

Guest of Honour

Intellectuals, Artists and Publishers

40+

7

Events

Films

35

440 sqm

Publishers and Institutions

10

Authors and Illustrators

Stand Area

Regular Presence Since 2008

Launch of the 3rd Volume of the Chinese

President’s Book “The Governance of China” Bayt Al Hikmah Cultural Group released the third volume, in Arabic, of “The Governance of China”, by Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, published by Foreign Languages Press, at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.

The Group presented the Arabic

Language Centre (ALC) with 1000 copies of the book. H.E Dr Ali Bin Tamim, ALC’s Chairman, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Bayt Al Hikmah Cultural Group, as he visited their stand at the Fair, for their role in the cultural exchange between China and the Arab world.

The Governance of China offers a unique look inside the Communist Party of China and its vision for the future. It presents the Chinese President’s views on governance, economy, development, diplomatic relations and other China’s policies in various areas.

A French Publishing House Displays an AED11 Million 16th Century Rare Book A valuable collection of rare books and manuscripts dating back centuries was displayed by the Clavreuil Library at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, including a 16th century book worth more than AED11 million containing pictures of rare and valuable bird species.

“This is our second participation at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, where we offer rare books of antiquity,” said Christoph Offermann, Clavreuil Library. About the book, Offermann added: “It is the first French encyclopaedia of ornithology by historian Pierre Belon, and includes 60 drawings of rare species of birds.”

South Korean Ambassador Visits CIMA Corner in ALC Pavilion The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) welcomed His Excellency Lee Seok-gu, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE. Received by Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Acting Executive Director of the ALC and Director of ADIBF and Dr Khalil Al Sheikh, Acting Director of Arabic Language Education and Research Department Director, Ambassador Lee was presented with a debrief on the Centre’s activities and visited the CIMA pavilion at the fair. Developed by the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) in Paris, CIMA, the Certificat International de Maîtrise en Arabe (International Certificate for Proficiency in Arabic) is the first internationally recognised certification to assess proficiency in modern standard Arabic.

Black Box Cinema Entertains Crowds at ADIBF 2022 The Black Box Cinema activation at this year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has once again proved to be one of the most popular features of the annual event, with the corner screening 22 Arabic short films, both narrative and documentaries, from 13 countries to regular full houses.

Taking place for the fifth time at the Fair, Black Box Cinema’s capacity has been increased this year from 50 to more than 70 seats. Nawaf Al Janahi, the Emirati film director who founded Black Box Cinema, said: “Black Box Cinema has become a landmark in ADIBF since its debut in 2017, creating an excellent link between the public and the Arab culture. As we’re in a very popular book fair, we’ve expanded for our literary audience, and have been familiarising them with the art of short films. We are constantly encouraging people from different cultures to familiarise themselves with Arab culture and the world of films by being presented here.”

Married Writers Discuss Their Creative Ties at ADIBF

Algerian novelist Wassini Al-A’raj and poet Dr. Zainab Al-A’waj took part in a fascinating session at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair this week, where they discussed the creative ties that unite them as a married couple.

During the ‘Family and Culture’ session, the pair spoke about marriage and its impact on their creative projects. Al-A’raj is the author of books including The Prince›s Book: Paths of the Iron Gates, with Dr Al-A’waj revealing that for the past 40 years she has always been the first to read her husband’s books.

“He has always given me his opinion of what I write and, in turn, I not only read to him, but listen to his story ideas before they are written. I live with its characters and events and enjoy it, then it is told to the children and grandchildren,” she said.

Her husband said that the pseudonym under which he received his wife’s novel, Zeina Maria, sparked a certain memory that made him curious to know more about this writer.

ADIBF Session Discusses Influence of Taha Hussein

A panel discussion at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair this week has seen experts and academics discuss Egyptian writer and intellectual Taha Hussein, considered one of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century.

During the session, entitled ‘Taha Hussein: Critic and Thinker’, Arab academics agreed that Hussein deserved the title of ‘Dean of Arabic Literature’ for his immense contributions to modernising Arabic literature. His critical approaches were even compared to the great Arab classical poet, philosopher and writer Abu Alaa Al-Ma›aari.

His Excellency Hassan Nazim, Iraq’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, described Hussein›s literary status and genius in creating a modern shift in the Arabic language paradigm that led to its modernisation. “He was keen to rethink Arabic language heritage and adapted it to the needs of a new generation,” he said.

Dr. Mohsen Al Musawi, Professor of Arabic Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, New York, said that Hussein continually worked to defend intellectuals who immersed themselves in honing their craft.

The session was attended by HE Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council; HE Ambassador Dr. Muzaffar Mustafa Al-Jubouri, Iraq’s Ambassador to the UAE; HE Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and a number of other officials and cultural figures, as well as journalists and media professionals.

Ed Husain Discusses Islam and its Role in the West’s Past, Present and Future Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) continued to offer thought-provoking discussion and valuable insights for attendees, with sessions including ‘Islam and the West: Past, Present and Future’ featuring Dr. Bilal Al-Arfa Lee, Professor of the Sheikh Zayed Chair in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut, and Ed Husain, a prominent British writer and a professor at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Having written numerous books on Islam, Husain explained how all his works are not just about Islam as a religion, but more widely about the future of Britain. With around 5 million Muslims currently living in the UK, and an expected increase in this number in the coming years, the author revealed that he believes combined Muslim populations could have the power to influence 35-40% of governmental seats.

Praising the UAE as a pioneer with a future-focussed mindset, Husain stated that the country is modern and outward-looking whilst remaining rooted in a classical understanding of Islam.

Stars of the Fair Ann Hiatt: Her Recipe for Success American best-selling author, Ann Hiatt, was the celebrity guest at the Abu Dhabi International

Book Fair, where she took part in the 1st International Conference on Arab Publishing and Creative Industries, and a book signing for her book “Bet on Yourself.

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She is an acclaimed bestselling author, executive consultant, and investor.

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A Silicon Valley veteran with 15 years of experience as the Executive Business Partner for Jeff Bezos (Amazon CEO) and Chief of Staff to Eric Schmidt (CEO and Executive Chairman of Google/ Alphabet)

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Popular celebrity speaker, she participated in hundreds of workshops across five continents.

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Moved from Silicon Valley to Europe in 2018.

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Currently sits on the board of directors of a number of companies in the UK.

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Consults with executives and companies around the world to help them reverse engineer their goals and achieve results.

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Published articles in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CNBC, the New York Times, the Economic Times, the Financial Times, and Forbes.

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Published her first book, “Bet on Yourself”, by HarperCollins in 2021, in which she shares the leadership principles she learned working alongside the world’s top tech CEOs.

The Bookshelf “The Defiled Mantle” by Phanishwar Nath Renu “The Defiled Mantle” is a novel by the Indian writer Phanishwar Nath Renu, published by Kalima, translated to Arabic by Dr Mujib Rahman, reviewed by Dr Dhikr Rahman.

“The Defiled Mantle” by the great novelist Phanishwar Nath Renu (1921-1977) is considered one of the most important novels in the Hindi literature. It radically changed the structure of the Indian novel and its narrative patterns and was the subject matter of many research studies at Indian and Western universities.

The Arabic Version of “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow” “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow” is a book by the award winning Professor Yuval Noah Harari, published by Kalima and translated into Arabic by Saleh Al Falahi and Hamad Al Ghaithi.

The book attempts to recount the major transformations facing the future of mankind in the 21st century through merging ancient myths and modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering.

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Our picks

Exhibition Sessions

29

MAY

The full list of sessions and activities is available on ADIBF’s website

Date:

May 29, 2022

Location:

Main Stage

Open Minds and Renewed Cultures: the Role of Museums in Enhancing Community Engagement Time: 11:30 The session sheds light on museums’ experiences in moving away from the collections display to interacting with their local communities and communicating with various sectors of society.

Focus Personality Session Taha Hussein and Enlightenment

Ahmed Rashid Thani: For a Calm Night

Time: 19:00

Youth Platform | Time: 15:00

Guest speakers: Adonis, Arabic poet and writer; Dr Amani Fouad, Professor of Modern Literary Criticism at the Academy of Arts in Cairo; Dr Hossam Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Dr Abdul Karim Al Hajrawi, Writer and Researcher - holds a PhD in Arabic Language and Literature; Dr Shawkat Al Masry, Assistant Professor of Modern Literary Criticism at the Academy of Arts in Cairo, and Dr Ahmed Ramadan Dibawi, Instructor of Faith and Logic at Al Azhar University, Egypt. The Session is moderated

by Dr Najm Abdul Karim.

A panel discussion on the late Emirati poet Ahmed Rashid Thani, on his poetic experience in the light of contemporary critical readings and inspiring role as one of the pioneering prose poets in the UAE.

Black Box Cinema Gair UAE/2021 11 min Feature Film

Jeijay Germany/2021 8 min Feature Film/ Special Screening from Guest of Honour Country

Time: 13:00

Time: 18:00

Painters Corner

Business Lounge

Expressing Feelings through Drawing

Wikimedians of UAE

In the «Expressing Feelings through Drawing» workshop, artists Mirah Almarri and Fatma AlJallaf teach how to draw facial expressions, body gestures and choose colours to express feelings such as joy, sadness or anger.

Time: 12:00 –13:00

Time: 11:00 – 13:00

Create Your Own Leather Journal

Lifestyle Corner

A leather goods company that makes journals, laptop sleeves, passport holders & bookmarks offers this helpful workshop for designers who are looking to gauge a better understanding of what’s available.

Time: 17:00 –18:00

adbookfair.com |

Join the Wikimedians of UAE User Group at the AIBF22 for an edit-a-thon to enrich the “Abu Dhabi Book Fair” article on Wikipedia with more information and sections.

Seize this opportunity to learn the basics of editing on Wikipedia. Just bring your laptops and join us on a journey to enrich digital Arabic content!

@abudhabibookfair |

Mindfulness for Modern Living Mediation and yoga session by Open Circle Yoga Studio.

Time: 11:00 – 11:30

@ADIBF |

@adbookfair |

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