JUBA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 24th Aug, 2026) Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Department of Culture, in partnership with the Union of Muslim Scholars of South Sudan, organised the fifth South Sudan Arabic Poetry Forum in Juba.
The theme was ‘Sharjah’s planting bears poetry and authenticity in Africa,’ with 15 poets and attendees, including officials, intellectuals, academics, and literature enthusiasts.
The forum is part of a series of Arab Poetry Forums held across the African continent, as part of Sharjah’s cultural efforts to strengthen the presence of the Arabic language, encourage poets and literary talent, and create opportunities for interaction between creatives in Africa and the Arab world. These efforts support cultural and literary activity and consolidate Arabic poetry as a means of communication and rapprochement between peoples and cultures.
The forum was attended by Sarah Nyirath, Minister of Culture, Heritage and National Museums of the Republic of South Sudan; members of the Shura Council of the Islamic Council; members of the General Secretariat of the National Islamic Council; Dr Mohammed Gai, President of the Union of Muslim Scholars of South Sudan and General Coordinator of the forum; as well as university professors, intellectuals and writers.
The Minister of Culture, Heritage and National Museums highlighted the forum’s importance in supporting Arab culture and poetry in South Sudan. She praised the Emirate of Sharjah‘s role in supporting the Arabic language and promoting Arab culture across Africa, describing these initiatives as a bridge for cultural communication between peoples and a platform for discovering the creative talents of younger generations.
She also highlighted the strong relations between the United Arab Emirates and South Sudan, stressing the importance of continuing cooperation in the cultural and knowledge fields to develop the literary scene and strengthen the presence of the Arabic language. She called for poetic works to be translated into local languages and English, enabling them to reach wider audiences and promoting awareness of literary experiences in South Sudan.
For his part, Dr Mohammed Gai, President of the Union of Muslim Scholars of South Sudan and General Coordinator of the forum, expressed his sincere appreciation for the Emirate of Sharjah’s support for the Arabic language and poetry in South Sudan. He said that holding the fifth edition of the forum demonstrates the continuity of this cultural project and its impact on the local literary scene.
Dr Mohammed Gai explained that the forum’s theme, ‘Sharjah’s planting bears poetry and authenticity in Africa’, reflects the growing presence of poetry and the Arabic language, as well as the opportunities these initiatives offer creatives to connect and exchange expertise. He noted that the forum has become an important cultural event for poets and others interested in the Arabic language in South Sudan.
Through its successive editions in the Republic of South Sudan, the forum continues to support poetic and cultural activity and broaden communication between poets and intellectuals. This aligns with Sharjah’s vision of making culture a bridge between peoples, strengthening the presence of the Arabic language across Africa, and supporting new generations of creatives and those interested in Arabic literature.
