The 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) kicked off on Tuesday with the launch of new books chronicling the evolution of the Arabic language over 17 centuries. The event was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who announced the new editions of his landmark project, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad signed a copy of the dictionary on stage during the inauguration.
In his speech, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad expressed his excitement about the project and how it had been a dream of his for over two decades. He mentioned that it took over 300 scientists and five years of hard work to accomplish this feat. The corpus now spans 67 volumes and provides a comprehensive insight into millions of words in the Arabic language.
The corpus chronicles the development of the Arabic language over 17 centuries and delves into the history of several Arabic words. Libyan writer and novelist Ibrahim Al-Koni was named as the Cultural Personality of the Year at the event. In his thought-provoking speech, Al-Koni questioned people’s duty on land and whether they should sacrifice happiness to fulfill their duties. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad commended Al-Koni for his efforts in sending the Arabic literary voice to Europe.
Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, the CEO of Sharjah Book Authority, reiterated the mission of SIBF to welcome the world to Sharjah. He mentioned that the book festival will last for 12 days and offer visitors the opportunity to shop for more than 1.5 million titles at discounted prices. There will be over 1,700 activities and 130 shows for attendees to enjoy.
The event will also feature renowned personalities such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell, Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, astronaut Sunita Williams, and Egyptian comedian Bassem Yousef. The first day of the festival included workshops on designing games, 3D graphics, and Manga calligraphy.
Overall, the SIBF promises to be an exciting and enriching event that celebrates Arabic literature and culture.
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