The Power of Novel 17 - 2- December 2023
Bait Al Zubair Narrative Days The Power of Novel
17 - 20 December 2023
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Introduction Culture, in its general sense, as defined by Ibn Khaldun, “is the manners of people in their living conditions, and their dealings and actions in daily life.” It represents thought, including science, philosophy, literature, principles, beliefs, and theories. Cultural work is a continuous effort to serve and develop society and Bait Al Zubair, as a cultural institution, believes in the importance of the cultural factor in the development of individuals. Indeed, this factor constitutes the essential basis for the awareness and progress of societies, as it serves as a measure of the extent of intellectual, literary, and social enlightenment in every society. From this standpoint, the Bait Al Zubair Foundation works to support and develop cultural work in the Sultanate of Oman, and to advance this vital sector through multiple cultural activities, which are compatible with the aspirations of the comprehensive cultural renaissance of the country, as it seeks to contribute positively to the development of the ideas of the individual and society and push them towards creativity and excellence. Bait Al Zubair Narrative Days comes in its first edition to emphasize the significance that the genre of the novel forms on the map of world literature, in a way that responds to the social, historical, cultural, political, and economic variables that made the art of fiction expressive of all of this. Bait Al Zubair held this event believing in the position of the Omani novelist in the Arab and international novel scene and aimed to make this large demonstration a real destination to meet with this number of prominent novelist names in the Arab world where they exchange opinions and address novel matters thereby enlightening this art and discovering its capabilities. Thus, we set the following goals:
1. Creating an interactive climate between novelists from different parts of the world and exchanging experiences and visions related to the art of the novel. 2. Studying the issues of novel art by its writers themselves, and listening to their personal experiences in writing and creativity. 3. Getting the opinions on the novel’s themes related to identity, memory, imagination, and experimentation. 4. Presenting the problems of literary awards and their impact on creativity and the experience of the writer who wins them. 5. Addressing the problems of receiving and the differences in its effects according to time, taste, and experience. 6. Studying the problematic relationship between creativity and criticism and the prospects for moving beyond the classical view to integration leading to the pluralism of interpretation. 7. Holding creative writing workshops that help new experiences develop their artistic tools in writing novels.
Why novel and power? Usually whenever reading the word « Power», it links immediately with «Political Power» directly. Afterward, it is followed by the possibilities of other powers and their forms: social, historical, religious, or even economic. In our event (Narrative and Power) we highlight other forms of power, including: Social and its impact on the novelistic genre. Historicism and the writer›s ability to deal with its past restrictions. On the other hand, there is the power of the present that is not only related to its processes. Let alone the power of time and place and the authority of art itself and its past conditions, time has its influence and power in shaping the nature of the primary novel. Then how about writing a novel without thinking about the reader’s power who has been establishing a new genre more than other writing arts resulting in the decline of other leading genres?
The reader’s power is linked to the market power that governs publishing policies, determines what readers demand from writing, and brings it to the forefront, defining another form of authority represented by the authority of the publisher. Then what about the power of reality and the imaginary and the bridges between them in an essentially imaginative writing art that only takes from reality what gives it the horizon of its departure? Can we separate this from the power of the translator, who forms a bridge towards others, and whose effective choices in what he translates from the literature of others become another power that lets the reader with limited knowledge about other languages unless believes in? Didn’t literary awards create a power that decides the direction of reading, and directs the attention of readers to this or that work? What about the absent authority – as this is the case at all times - represented by the authority of criticism, which was never at its best? We may ask about the imagined power; authority, which only exists in minds, grew up with infinite forms of authority and began to assume them before encountering them. All of these questions will be the subject of discussion in the seminars of the Bait Al Zubair Narrative Days in mid-January of 2024 in the presence of an elite group of international, Arab, and Omani novelists over a period of five days, accompanied by a number of novel writing workshops presented by experienced writers, book fair that publishing houses and libraries participate in, and calligraphy exhibition.
Seminars
On Achievements
Dr. Jokha Al Harthi An Omani academic and novelist
The first Arab person to win the Man Booker International Prize, in 2019.
From her publication in novels: Manamat 2004 - Saidat Al-Qamar 2010 - Naranja 2016 - Harir Al- Ghazala 2021 Her works have been translated into more than 26 languages, including English, French, Italian, Swedish, Persian, and Greek.
Geetnjajali Shree An Indian novelist and storyteller
Winner of the Man Booker International Prize 2022 for the English translation of her novel Ret Samadhi, entitled Tomb of Sand. From her publications: Mai, The Empty Space, the Grave of Sand, and The Roof Under Her Feet. Her books have been translated into several languages, including English, German, and French.
Moderator: Azhar Ahmed An Omani writer and translator Director of the Omani Cultural Club
Interested in children’s literature
From her publications: “What the Sufi Narrated” - a translated novel in 2020, Jabal Al Akhdar, Friend of the Stars - 2019, a collection of short stories for children in Arabic and English, “The First Bird” / Novel / Dar Al-Jamal 2009.
Seminars
Arab Gulf Community’s Power on the Novel
Husain Al Mahroos A Bahraini writer and photographer Co-founder of the Cultural Critical Association. Director of the annual book (Ishraqat), published by the Sheikh Ibrahim Center for Culture and Research. From his publications: the novel “Qandah,” the novel “Hawam,” “The Biography of Al-Khadab,” and “The Shrine of Water.”
Saleha Obaid An Emirati writer and storyteller
Short stories include “Alzheimer’s, The Postman of Happiness, and Implicitly a White Tuft.”
Novels: (Maybe It’s a Joke 2018, Spice Circle 2022)
She has won several awards, including the Emirates Youth Award - Creative Writing Category 2017, and the Al Owais Creativity Award for the best Emirati literary publication 2015.
Taher Al Zahrani Saudi storyteller, novelist, and editor
His novel publications include The Last Tobacco Fields 2020, Mansour’s World 2019, and Al Fayoumi 2017. From his short story collections: Hazza 2019, Lost 2015, Al-Sandaqa 2010. Founder of the “Anthial” narrative initiative, and the “Rawa” narrative project. He judged many literary competitions.
Abdullah Al Busais A Kuwaiti novelist
From his publications: “Starry Memories” (original title: Thikrayat Dallaa), 2014 and “The Taste of Wolf” (original title: Ta’am Al Theb), 2016 The Taste of the Wolf won the Best Arabic Novel Award at the Sharjah Book Fair in 2017 and was translated into Chinese by China International Press.
Laila Abdulla Omani writer
Short story writer, and critic in the field of childhood literature. Literary publications: the novel “The Notebooks of Varho” 2018, the“Supposed Love Letters between Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin” 2014, a collection of short stories “The Catalog of Kings” 2023. She wrote in many newspapers and magazines, including (Al Roya Emirati Newspaper), (Al Roya Omani Newspaper), (Al Arab), (Al Taqreer), (Oman Newspaper, Saudi Juba Magazine, and others. She received several awards, including the Cultural Creativity Award in Oman for the best publication of articles in 2015 for the book “Obsession of the World Room.”
Dr. Mohammad Al Yahyaei Omani writer and researcher
He has won the Katara Award for Arabic Novel, novels category, for his novel “The War” 2023.
He participated in launching and managing many cultural initiatives and events in Oman, including: Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Muscat Arab Poetry Festival. His publications include Basin of Desires 2015, and Marshall’s Picnic 2016. Some of his works have been translated into English, Swedish, German, and Spanish
Moderator: Mohammed Al Shehri Omani writer and researcher
Publications: a collection of short stories entitled “Seeds of the Boar” 2010, the novels “Mushka” 2014, and “Al-Ahqafi Al-Akhir” 2020.
He has a weekly column in Oman newspaper.
Seminars
Celebrating Arabic Language Day
Dr. Ahmed Darwish. An Egyptian academic and writer specializing in Arabic language and literature
He presented studies and papers in more than thirty conferences and symposiums throughout the Arab world and was a member of more than thirty committees. His books include: Comparative Literature and the Relationship of Arabic Literature to World Literature 2010, Reflections on the Aesthetics of the Qur’anic Text 2011. He has won many awards, including: the Egyptian Ministry of Culture Award for the best translated book in literary criticism, “The Book of the Higher Language,” 1998, and the State Appreciation Award in Literature 2009.
Dr.Ihsan bin Sadiq Al Lawati Specialized in Arabic literature and criticismand criticism
From his publications: With Rhetorical and Critical Terms 2016, On Contemporary Omani Narrative 2013, Rhetorical Sciences among Arabs and Persians, a Comparative Study 2000. He supervised a group of master’s and doctoral theses and contributed to specialized scientific conferences in Oman and abroad.
He has published several research papers in scientific journals.
Radwan Al Sayed Lebanese writer and researcher
Editor in the Scientific Journals: Al-Fikr Al-‘Arabi 1979-1985, Al-Ijtihad 1988-2004 and Tolerance / understanding 2004-2018 Books: Al-umma wal-Gama’a wa-Sulta (1984)- Al- Gama’a wal- Mujtama’ wad Dawla (1997)- Siyasiyat al- Islam al- Mu’asir (1997)- Al-Sira’ ala-al-Islam(2004)- Maqala fil-Islam as-Siyasi al-‘Arabi (2005)- German Orientalists (2007)- Arab and Iranians (2014)- Time for Change: Religion, State and Political Islam (2014)- Struggle for Arabic Heritage(2015).
He has an analysis of ancient political texts and translations from English and German.
Prof. Mohammad Al-Maashani An Omani researcher specializing in the Arabic language. He has been the Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research at Mohammed bin Zayed University for Human Sciences since 2022. He has won the King Faisal Prize in Islamic Studies (2017), and the Nile Prize for Arab Creativity from Egypt (2021). From his peer-reviewed researches: the linguistic features of the short story in Oman, linguistic duality in Arabic. For his research productions: Non-linguistic factors affecting Arabic in Oman and their effects 2020 Member of many specialized committees, and recipient of the GCC Award for Excellence in the Field of Linguistic Studies 2015.
Moderator: Dr. Mona Hibras Omani writer and critic
She Published: “Nature in the Omani Novel” 2013, “A Shadow Falling on the Wall” 2023 She received the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature in its ninth edition, 2022, for the Arts\ articles.
Seminars
The Power of Critic
Dr. Ahmed Youssef Algerian critic and academic
From his publications: Semiotic Theory from Sign to Discourse 2018, Milestones in Philosophy, Language and Literature 2013. Founder of the Semiotics and Discourse Analysis Lab at the University of Oran. He has many co-authored books and research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Dr. Saad Al-Bazai Saudi critic and translator
His publications include: Desert Culture: Studies in Contemporary Arabian Peninsula Literature, 1991, The Migration of Concepts, 2021. In addition to many translations. He won several awards, including the Sultan Qaboos Award in Literary Criticism 2017
Moderator: Dr. Khalid Al Mamari Omani writer and poetArabic language. From his publications: (The Blind Who Saw the Sea) 2022 - poetry, the Omani feminist novel in Oman (1999-2016) study 2023, (Under the Rain) 2013- articles and texts. He represented the Sultanate in many events inside and abroad. - He participated in judging a number of literary competitions. He won many awards, including the Cultural Creativity Award of the Omani Society for Writers and Literates for Critical Studies 2017).
Seminars
The Awards and the Power of Receiving
Omaima Al Khamis Saudi writer
Her publications include: the novel Al-Warfa 2008, the novel Saja’s Visit 2013, in addition to many children’s stories. Her novel, The Journey of the Cranes in the Cities of Al-Aqiq, won the Naguib Mahfouz Prize for the Novel 2018.
Hammour Ziada Sudanese novelist and journalist
His works include: “The Biography of Om Durmaniya” (a collection of short stories, 2008), “The Kong” (a novel, 2010), “Sleeping at the Feet of the Mountain” (a collection of short stories, 2014), “The Darwish’s Longing” (2014), “Drowning, Stories of Oppression and Destiny” (2018)
He has won several awards, and some of his works have been translated into other languages.
Saud Al Sanusi A Kuwaiti novelist and journalist.
From his publications: The Bamboo Stalk (2012), Grandma Hessa’s Mice (2015) and naqaat saleha (saleha’s camel) (2019). From his theatrical works are the musical “Memoirs of a Sailor” and the play “New Jableh” His works have been translated into more than ten languages, including English, Italian, Persian, Turkish, and Chinese. He has won many awards, including the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2013, for the novel “The Bamboo Stalk.”
Tariq Imam Egyptian novelist and critic
His publications include: Maquette of Cairo 2022, the novel My Father’s Tomb 2013, and The Quiet of Killers 2008. His works have been translated into several languages, including English, Italian, and French.
Moderator: Suliman Al Mamari Omani writer and journalist
From his publications: “The One Who Doesn’t Love Gamal Abdel Nasser,” a novel, and “A Dog’s Death Certificate,” which is a joint novel with the writer Abdulaziz Al-Farsi, a biography of the place: “Creatures of Al Radda.” His book “Things are Closer than They Appear in the Mirror” won the Youssef Idris Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2007.
Seminars
Novel Copywriting
Buthaina Al Essa Kuwaiti novelist
Library and training publications institution
From her publications: novels; Blind Sinbad; Atlas of the Sea and War 2021, Maps of the Lost 2015, Truth and Writing; Descriptive Writing in Narrative Literature 2018
Bushra Khalfan Omani writer
Winner of the Katara Prize for Arabic Fiction for the novel Dilshad 2022 Her publications include Al-Bagh 2016, What Do We Need to Become a House - poetic texts - 2020, and The Sad Butterfly Catcher - a collection of short stories - 2010.
She writes articles for several newspapers.
Zahran Al Qasmi Omani poet and novelist
His novel “The Exile of the Wanderer” won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction “Booker” for the year 2023. His publications include novels; The Hunger of Honey 2017, the novel Jabal al-Shu`a 2013, and the collection Camera 2015.
Huda Hamed Omani writer and novelist
Editor of Nizwa Magazine
She has published: The novel “They Are Not Mentioned in Metaphor” in 2022, the novel “Cinderella of Muscat” in 2016, the book “Contemplation of the Wolf Outside the Makeup Room,” a book of articles and reflections. She participated in judging many local and Arab literary awards and has won several awards.
Moderator: Fatema Ihsan Omani poet and journalist
She has published: Sekket Matar (2014), Blue Heart (2017).
She received several literary awards, including the Cultural Creativity Award for Best Poetry Publication
Omani Society for Writers and Literates 2017.
Seminars
The Publisher’s Power or the Reader’s Power? Who Makes the Other?
Humood Al Shukaili Omani writer
The founder of two cultural projects: the Homeland Cultural Café and the Nather Publishing House. His publications include The Narrator in Examples of the Arabic Novel in Oman 2013, The Bicycle Book 2021, and Coffee in Every Meeting 2020.
Rana Idrees A writer, translator, and cultural activist from Syria General Director of Dar Al Adab for Publishing and Distribution from 1986 until now. She translated many literary articles from English and French to Arabic, in addition to translating a novel by Milan Kundera and a novel by Margaret Duras. She participated in judging many literary awards and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Booker Prize between 2019 and 2021.
Shawqi Al-Anezi Tunisian poet, publisher and researcher The founder of Meskiliani Publishing House in 2006 in Tunisia. He has published: Elegy of the Shadow, Poetry, 2010 (Abu Al-Qasim Chebbi Prize awarded by the Tunisian Academy for Language, Literature and Arts, 2009). He presented several programs on cultural radio in Tunisia
He has won the Best Tunisian Publisher Award at the 2018 Tunis International Book Fair.
He is preparing a doctoral thesis on “Rhythm according to Henri Michonek”
Mohammed Saif Al Rahbi Omani writer
General Director of Lubban Publishing Foundation
He published about forty publications distributed across novels, short stories, essays, theater, travel literature, and biography, including The Journey of Abu Zayd, and the Al-Khasht. He worked as an editor of the Al-Thaqafiyya wa Al-Takween magazine, and director of the Bait Al- Ghasham Publishing and Translation Foundation (2012/2020).
Amal Al Saidi Omani journalist and writer
Her first publication, “A Side Entrance to the House,” won the AFAC grant from the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and the award for the best literary publication in 2021 in the Sultanate of Oman.
She writes a weekly column in Oman newspaper.
Seminars
The Power of the Place in the Exile Novel.
Enaam Kachachi An Iraqi journalist, novelist, and documentary film director.
Her publications include the novel “Drivers of Hearts” 2005, the novel “The American Granddaughter” 2008, and a short story collection “The Land of Takh Takh” 2022. She has won many awards, including the French Lagardère Foundation Prize for Arabic Fiction, in 2016. Her works have been translated into many languages, including Italian, Persian, and Chinese.
Najwa Binshitwan Libyan academic and novelist
She has published several works, including the novel The Slave, The Horses’ Hair, and Concerto Qurina Eduardo She has won several awards, including the John Fanti Festival Award - Italy for Overall Creative Works (2023)
Her works have been translated into several languages, including English and Italian
Al Habib Salemi A Tunisian novelist
His novels include Al Nour Neighborhood Holiday 2023, Bakara 2016, Women of the Gardens 2010, and Sand Maze 1994.
His novels have been translated into seven languages, including French and Turkish.
He has won several awards, including the Katara Award for Arabic Fiction for his novel “Nostalgia for the Neighbor” 2021.
Moderator: Hilal Al Badi Omani writer and playwright
From his works: articles, “A Box of Nails,” 2013, and a play script, “This Is Not the Whole Story.” He contributed to the preparation and presentation of several local radio programs, and editorially supervised the university media portal of Sultan Qaboos University “Anwar”. He has won many awards, including the first place in the Sharjah Theater Composition Competition in 2020.
Seminars
The Power of Translator.
Ahmed Al Meaini Omani translator and academic
His publications in translation include: “Paradise” by Abdul Razzaq Qarneh 2023, “The Island of Lost Trees by Elif Shafak” 2022, and “The Diary of a Spring Bird” series by Haruki Murakami 2021. He has several academic contributions, and won third place in the “Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding,” the translation section from English to Arabic, for the book The Persians: The History of Iran in the Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Ages, 2015 AD.
Mary Tawk Ghosh Lebanese translator
Her publications in translation include Sleeping Beauties by Yasunari Kawabata and The Invisible War by Jean-Marc Moura. She participated in translation workshops in the Arab world and France.
Zwaina Al Twaih Omani translator and writer
From her publications in translation: the book “Only the Dreamer Wakes,” by the Bulgarian-American writer Maria Popova, 2022, and the novel, “The Mayor of Caster Bridge,” by the English writer, Thomas Hardy, 2019.
She presented many workshops in literary translation and edited Arabic and English translations of several novels.
Moderator: Ahmed Al Kalbani Omani specialized in media and theatre
He received several awards, including the title of the Eloquent Omani Poetry Festival in 2012, and two gold medals from the ASBU organization at the Arab level for creativity in preparing and presenting the “Out of the Box” program in 2018.
Event Reporter
Dr. Muhammad Al-Shahat Egyptian researcher and critic
His publications include: “Narratives of Exile, a Study in the Arabic Novel after 1967,” “Alternative Narratives, Cultural Approaches,” “Towards a New Writing, Reading in Contemporary Omani Literature,” and “Theory and Challenges of the Cultural Critic.” An international arbitrator in a number of scientific journals, cultural institutions, and arbitration for international awards and competitions.
Event Program
Day
Program Time
Speakers
Title
Moderator
10:00 - 11:00
Seminar 1
Dr. Ahmed Yusuf Dr.Saad Al Bazei
The Power of Critic
Dr. Khalid Al Mamri
11:15 - 12:45
Seminar 2
Hammor Zyadah Omaima Al Khamis Saud Al Sanusi Tariq Imam Bushra Khalfan Buthaina Al Eissa Huda Hamed Zahran Al Qasmi
Awards and the Power of Receiving
Suliman Al Mamari
13:00 - 14:00
Seminar 3
Novel Copywriting
Fatema Ihsan
Tuesday
19/12 Shangri-La
18:00 - 19:00
Book signing
Book signing for speakers and moderator publications
19:00 – 21:00
Seminar 4
Dr. Ahmed Darwish Dr. Ihsan Sadiq Dr. Mohamed AlMashani Dr. Radouan Al Sayed
Celebrating Arabic language day
Dr. Muna Hibras
Exhibitions Opening
Day
Program Time
Speakers
Title
Moderator
10:00 - 11:30
Seminar 5
Humood Al Shukaili Mohamed Al Rahbi Ranna Idris Shouqi Al Enezi Al Habeeb Al Salmi Ena’m Kachaj Najwa Bin Shitwan
The Publisher’s Power or the Reader’s Power: who makes the other?
Amal Al Saidi
11:45 - 13:00
Seminar 6
The Power of Place in the Exile novel
Hilal Al Badi
13:45 - 15:00
Seminar 7
Ahmed Al Mueiny Mari Tawq Zwainah Al Twaih
Translator’s Power
Ahmed Al Kalbani
Wednesday
15:00 - 16:00
Book signing
Book signing for speakers and moderator publications
20/12 Shangri-La
18:00 - 19:30
Seminar 8
Geetanjali Shree Jokhah Al Harthi
On Achievements
Azhar Ahmed
19:45 – 22:00
Seminar 9
Hussain Al Mahros Layla Abdullah Mohammed Al Yahyaei Salha Obaid Tahir Al Zahrani
Arab Gulf Community’s Power on the Novel
Mohammed Al Shehri
22:00 - 23:00
Book signing
Book signing for speakers and moderator publications
Workshops
From the Idea to the Text Bushra Khalfan
The Atmosphere of the text Zahran Al Qasmi
Workshops
Language- Editing- Proofreading- Publishing Buthaina Al Essa
Demons of Writing Huda Hamed
Exhibitions
BookFair
Art Gallery
Art Gallery
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