Milan festival seeks to explore Arabic heft in European literature

Building on Sharjah’s growing cultural presence in Italy, and continuing the work of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the Arabic Cultural Institute (ACI) in advancing Arabic language and literature within European academic and cultural circles, the ninth edition of the International Festival of the Arabic Language and Culture recently concluded in Milan.

Held over two days under the patronage of SBA, in collaboration with ACI and the Research Centre for the Arabic Language at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, the festival was held under the theme “The Arabic Weave in the Fabric of European Literature”. It featured an academic and literary programme exploring the influence of Arabic on European literature, alongside linguistic, narrative and poetic exchanges across Mediterranean cultures, bringing together 24 academics, researchers, translators and writers from 13 Arab and European countries.

The opening ceremony included keynotes from Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Maria Teresa Zanola, President of the European Council for Languages and Terminology, and Vice Rector for Quality of Education; Dr Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah; Walid Othman, Consul General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Milan; and Dr Wael Farouq, Director of ACI and festival director.

Culture drives dialogue and global connection

In his opening remarks, Ahmed Al Ameri said the UAE has adopted a vision that places culture at the centre of dialogue between peoples and the building of meaningful connections with nations and civilisations. He noted that His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has led a far-reaching Arab cultural project in which books serve as a gateway between world cultures.

Al Ameri added: “Under the leadership of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, we continue these efforts through the International Festival of the Arabic Language and Culture. Over centuries, Arabic culture has enriched European literature through translation, intellectual exchange and its presence in European literary consciousness. This is not a parallel relationship, but one of influence and exchange that has shaped key trajectories in world literary history.”

Arabic as a living bridge of knowledge

In turn, Dr Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, affirmed that the choice of theme for this edition of the festival reflects an advanced awareness of the nature of the relationship between language and culture in the European context. He noted that this approach aligns with the work of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah in building a research network that brings together Orientalists and Arabists from various European countries, through specialised conferences that shed light on the actual reach of the Arabic language within European languages — whether through commonly used loanwords or through the pathways of translation and Arabisation — providing scientific evidence of the depth of Arabic presence in these languages.

Reframing Arabic’s place in European culture

On his part, Dr Wael Farouq said: “The ninth edition reflects a renewed focus on re-examining the presence of Arabic in European culture as an ongoing process of interaction and mutual influence. This year, we aim to create an academic and cultural space to explore how Arabic has contributed to European literary memory through literature, translation, narrative and poetry, while highlighting the potential of these connections to open new horizons for dialogue beyond borders and languages.”

Scientific conference explores Arabic influence across European traditions

The festival’s second day featured a scientific conference comprising a series of research sessions examining the presence of Arabic in European languages and literatures from multiple perspectives, with a general focus on diaspora literature, the contributions of Orientalists and Arabists in studying Arabic and transmitting it into European contexts, their role in expanding the fields of linguistic and literary research, and deepening cultural interaction between languages.

It opened with “Between Codes and Conscience: Judicial Literature Across Arabic and European Traditions”, followed by “Arabisms and Linguistic Contacts in Europe”, which explored Arabic vocabulary and linguistic exchange across European languages.

Further sessions examined the influence of One Thousand and One Nights on European literature, with dedicated discussions on Italian and German traditions, shedding light on the reception and reinterpretation of Arabic narrative heritage.

Later sessions included “Arabic Narrative Models from al-Andalus to the Present” and “Arabic Narrative Models and the Emergence of Arab Modernity”, highlighting the evolution of Arabic narrative forms and their intersections with European literary developments.

The proceedings concluded with a session on “Poetic and Literary Dialogues Across the Shores of the Mediterranean”, highlighting ongoing exchanges between Arabic poetry and European literary traditions, followed by a closing performance combining poetry, music, and live expression.