São Paulo – Brazilian and Portuguese scholars in Arabic language, culture and history are aiming to establish an association, so as to unify their actions and provide greater visibility to Arab studies in Brazil and in Portugal. The creation of the organisation was discussed this week, during the 1st Symposium of Portuguese-Brazilian Arabists, held at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Ufrj), in the capital of the state of Rio. A draft statute was presented and over 30 participants in the meeting showed interest in taking part.
Future affiliates are from Portugal, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. “My expectation is for this association to combine our efforts and better our results,” says Suely Lima, a member of the board of organisers for the symposium at the Ufrj. The meeting was organised by the Rio-based university alongside the University of São Paulo (USP). The academician explains that there are sporadic, isolated efforts underway in the field, and those should be unified by the association, thus leading to more efficient results.
The proposed name is Portuguese-Brazilian Arabists Association (Alba). According to the statute, the organisation will be provisionally headquartered at the Department of Eastern and Slavic Languages at the School of Language of the Ufrj, The Department of Eastern Languages at the School of Philosophy, Language and Human Sciences of USP, and the Division of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Lisbon, in Portugal.
The symposium in Rio de Janeiro lasted three days and included a series of debates on matters such as the history and policies for Arabic studies in Portuguese-speaking countries, the teaching of Arabic language in Brazil and of Portuguese in Arab countries, translations, the history and historical representations in Arab countries and the schools of Arab thought. Approximately 50 people attended each session, according to Suely.
According to the member of the board of organisers, it was possible to ascertain that the teaching of Arabic is faced with the same problems in different places. Usually, explains Suely, members of teaching institutions question the importance of studying Arabic. According to her, the importance of learning the language must be reaffirmed, as other languages such as English and Spanish are regarded as more valuable.
The Ufrj also hosted the event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Arabic Department, which was established in 1969 and was headed by Professor and Doctor Alphonse Nagib Sabbagh, who turned 90 years of age last Wednesday (2nd). He was also the dean of the meeting. The chairman of the board of organisers, João Baptista M. Vargens, was replaced at the event by USP Professor Mamede Jarouche due to health complications.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
