The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

To celebrate World Arabic Language Day to be observed on December 18, Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL), Dubai, organised an artistic and cultural evening featuring renowned Tunisian artist and composer, Lotfi Bouchnak. The event, which attracted art and culture lovers, witnessed wide participation of people of all ages.

The gathering discussed the beauty of Arabic poetry and its eloquence, the transformation of Arabic songs over time, and the new generation’s views of the Arabic language. Dr. Mohammed Salem Obaid AlMazrooei, MBRL Board Member, said: “The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library plays a major role in promoting Arabic language, as it is not just a repository for Arabic books and resources, but rather a living platform that is rich with culture and knowledge.

By hosting events such as the artistic evening with the iconic artist Lotfi Bouchnak, our library highlights the beauty of the Arabic language and its profound influence on art and culture, embodying our vision to make it more present and influential in the lives of community members, and highlighting its importance as an integral part of our cultural and civilisational identity.”

Bouchnak discussed his experience with Muwashahat and Mawawil, reviewing how the traditional musical genres profoundly influenced his artistic career. He also explained how Muwashahat, with its rich heritage and musical complexities, provided him with a platform to explore new aspects of vocal performance and artistic expression.

 Lotfi Bouchnak (right) responds to a question.

He highlighted the value of mawwil as a means of transmitting Arab folk poetry and how it represents a bridge linking ancient singing traditions and modernity, stressing its importance in enhancing eloquence and poetic expression in Arabic music.

At the end of the event, he commended MBRL’s role as a cultural hub that goes beyond the concept of traditional libraries, by providing an attractive environment for students and researchers, while preserving ancient cultural heritage and transmitting it to new generations, in addition to its contribution to enhancing cultural communication between peoples and its role in promoting the Arabic language.

Bouchnak (b. 1954) is a singer, oud player, composer and public figure. He is considered one of the best tenors in the Arab world and has been dubbed as Tunisia’s Pavarotti. He has also appeared in Tunisian TV series and movies. Born in Tunis, Tunisia, to a family of Bosniak origin, at a young age he began re-performing the songs of Oum Kalthoum and other maestros of Egyptian music. He joined the Youth Musical Group of Tunis, then Arrachidia, where he began to hone his vocal skills. He also learnt to play the oud.

In 1979, at the age of 25, he recorded his first song. He then began to work with other famous composers like Sayed Mekkaoui, Fathallah Ahmed and Anwar Brahem. In the 1980s, he began composing songs for artists like Khaled and the rap group, IAM. Bouchnak has been one of few artists to have regular shows in the Cairo Opera House since 1992.

He won the Best Arab Singer Award in Washington DC, in 1997. He has received numerous honours and has been bestowed many awards including Grand Officier of the National Order of Merit of Tunisia; Grand Officier of the Order of the Seventh of November of Tunisia and the Grand Star of the Order of Culture, Science and Arts of Palestine.

He has been awarded the Prize of Khedivial Opera House; Gold Medal of Institut du Monde Arabe; Gold Medal of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation; Gold Medal of National Festival of Popular Arts of Marrakech and Medal of the City of Sarajevo. MBRL is also organising a series of free, cultural events for all age groups in the month of December.

The first of these events was a lecture on the arts of Nabati poetry and the reflection of geography in its vocabulary, in the UAE. The lecture, which was called ‘The Impact of Geography on Emirati Nabati Poetry’, was presented by the poet-researcher Fahad Al Maamari. MBRL is also hosting a temporary exhibition on its ground floor, at Al Khor Gallery, under the banner ‘Sustainability Horizon - A World of Green Knowledge’, in conjunction with COP28.

The exhibition, to be held till December 12, showcases 500 books, in addition to a collection of unique titles, encyclopedias, and magazines selected from the Library’s nine sub-libraries. The resources highlight the theme of sustainability, and address environmental topics such as global and regional climate change and clean and renewable energy.

The show aims to spread awareness on sustainability and the importance of preserving resources for future generations. Opened in 2022, MBRL is an architectural masterpiece, spanning 66,000 square-metres and housing over 1.5 million print and digital books with a database containing over 21 million titles and videos. Shaped like the rehl, the traditional book rest for the Holy Quran, its collection features rare manuscripts and first editions of great literary works, some dating back to the 13th century.

The Library overlooks Dubai Creek in Al Jaddaf, a natural saltwater brook in the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. A union between tradition and technology, culture and convenience, MBRL has become one of the most ambitious cultural and knowledge based initiatives in the Arab world.