Doha: World Poetry Day will be marked in Qatar tomorrow with an event open to all poets in the country.
Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has partnered with the Dialogue Poets Council in Qatar to host the event, which will be held at Aspire Park from 8pm until midnight.
The event is open to all poetry-lovers and the general public.
“AZF’s commitment to host and sponsor various cultural events is part of our broader strategy to serve different sectors of the community, whatever their interests or hobbies are, and especially when these activities involve preserving our authentic Arabian heritage,” Hamad Bu Hindi, Public Relations and Media Manager at AZF, said.
Eight poets will take part in tomorrow’s event, the youngest among them being 15.
“This event is much anticipated by many passionate followers of dialogue poetry and improvisational recitals, which are considered some of the most difficult forms of poetry but are also very specific to Qatari culture,” Hindi said.
The poetry recitation, which will be in Arabic, will have three segments: measured poetry, prose and dialogue poetry, Meshaal Al Marri, President of the Dialogue Poets Council, said.
“The Council has organised several festivals in the past through the Ministry of Culture, and this is the first poetry evening we are hosting in honour of World Poetry Day,” he said.
Dialogue poetry involves two or more poets speaking in rhyming, measured verses in an improvised recitation, which usually involves the two challenging each other. Traditionally, it was a way for poets from opposing tribes to criticise one another. Recently, this form of poetry has seen a revival among young poets who prefer improvisation and prose.
The Peninsula
