São Paulo – The 19th UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture was launched in Brazil, at the headquarters of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), in São Paulo this Monday (22) morning. The event featured a round table with five laureates. Submissions for the award are expected to open within ten days.
The award is an initiative of the government of the emirate of Sharjah, one of the seven that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The recognition is given to people, groups, and institutions that contribute to the promotion of Arab culture in the world, and all countries can participate. Sharjah is known as the emirate of Culture.
Prize laureates participated in-person; from Brazil, Silvia Antibas, cultural director of the ABCC; and João Baptista de Medeiros Vargens; from Argentina, Christian Mouroux, from Cine Fértil; and from Iraq, Dunya Mikhail. From Lebanon, Rami Tannous, from Samandal, participated over the internet. The moderator was the vice president of International Relations of the ABCC, Mohamad Mourad, who asked the laureates how they were impacted and influenced by the award in their personal and career paths.
Rami Tannous is an illustrator based in Beirut, Lebanon. Samandal is a non-profit organization that mainly works with the edition of graphic novels in Arabic. Samandal was awarded the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize in its 16th edition. “Unfortunately, no one from the NGO was able to use the money because, with the current situation in Lebanon, the money is retained in the banks; we can’t withdraw it, so for now, we only use the title to try other incentives and financing. It is unfortunate. We are very proud of the award, but unfortunately, everything is only on paper,” Tannous said over the internet.
Dunya Mikhail (opening picture) is Iraqi, born in Baghdad, and was awarded in the 18th edition in 2020. She was a translator and journalist before moving to the United States and is now a poet and teacher in Michigan. Her work tackles war, migration, the loss of the home country, and the complexities of that loss for one person. Her novel, The Bird Tattoo, will be translated into Portuguese by Beatriz Gemignani and released by the publishing house Editora Tabla.
“It is important to see our work is recognized; as a woman, an immigrant living abroad, the impact is not just for me, but my community. This award empowers artists, writers, and cultural ambassadors and celebrates excellence in promoting the dialogue of Arab culture internationally. As a writer, my power is my pen, which I use to defend the freedom to learn. And I feel this award ‘sharpened’ my pen. It’s not the end; it’s the beginning. I think the dialogue will continue, and the impact will be felt more and more,” Mikhail said.
Representing the non-profit organization Cine Fértil, Christian Mouroux spoke about the project, which involves screening Arab and Latin American films throughout Latin America, Arab countries, and Europe. The Argentine project was awarded the prize in 2017 for promoting the Arab culture in Latin America with film festivals, audiovisual productions, and regional programs. The project started in 2009.
“In our milieu, they always talk about building bridges, but we Arabs and Latinos don’t need to build anything; the bridge is already here; we just need to use it,” said Mouroux. He stated that Arab and Latin American films have many similarities, and there is a mirroring between the regions. Cine Fértil’s first international festival took place in 2011. In addition to the festivals, they also opened a space for professionals from both regions to work together to make movies.
“The award had an impact on the legitimacy of our work, on the recognition of what we have built and want to do in the future. We are following that light in many ways,” said Mouroux.
Historian and ABCC’s cultural director, Silvia Antibas, also spoke about the award’s impact on her career. “I was fortunate to be in the right place with the right people and at the right time here with the ABCC. The ABCC businessmen are sensitive and understand the power of culture, this dialogue, getting to know each other, even for business. This support I have here is unconditional,” she said. Antibas was awarded in the 17th edition in 2019.
Professor João Baptista de Medeiros Vargens won the 10th edition of the award, in 2011. He is an editor, author, translator, lexicologist, professor of Arabic language and civilization, and vice president of the Brazilian Arab Culture Institute (ICArabe). “In my work, I was able to visit several Arab countries, but I only visited Palestine this year, whose cause was one of the reasons for my professional choice,” said Vargens.
Poet Dunya Mikhail ended the event by reciting some of her poems in English, accompanied by a projection of her illustrations written in Arabic and classical Arabic music on the lute by the musician Ian Nain.
Opening
The event was opened by ambassador Osmar Chohfi, president of the ABCC. “For us, pride goes beyond contributing to a global initiative of clear synergies with the mission of our entity, which, in addition to strengthening bilateral trade, also aims to strengthen cultural ties and friendship between Brazilians and Arabs,” said Chohfi. He complemented by praising the award given to Silvia Antibas, historian and cultural director of the entity.
Angela Melo, director of Social Inclusion and Youth in the Social and Human Sciences sector of UNESCO, said the award was created in 1988 and has already recognized 36 artists, researchers, translators, and entities from different regions of the world, from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. “We couldn’t have made a better choice to launch our award. Brazil and São Paulo represent the values of this award, which is one of UNESCO’s most important,” said Melo. She encouraged the candidacy of women and young people. “Gender equity and youth are priorities,” she declared.
The consul general of the UAE to São Paulo, Ibrahim Alalawi, also spoke at the event. He said his work as a consul is not limited to trade but also culture. “After two years of hiatus due to the pandemic, we can hold an in-person event to launch this year’s award. I invite everyone to visit my country and the emirate of Sharjah,” said Alalawi.
ABCC director Alessandra Frisso gave a brief overview of the Arab community in Brazil based on the 2019 research carried out by the organization. About 12 million Arabs and descendants are in the country, and many are present in culture, arts, and literature. “About 29% of Arabs in Brazil have higher education, compared to 6% of the Brazilian population in general,” said Frisso.
The ABCC will also host the launch of UNESCO’s Arab Latinos! project, which aims to foster intercultural dialogue for social inclusion and develop Arab culture in Latin America. The event will start Monday (22) evening and run until August 24.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
