Sharjah Festival of African Literature

Sharjah Festival of African Literature (January 24– 27, 2025) welcomed 29 literary luminaries from UAE and Africa. Wole Soyinka, Abdulrazak Gurnah, and a distinguished group of authors lead three book discussions and eight seminars. The festival mesmerised audience with children’s workshops, African crafts, pottery making, jewellery design and cooking sessions led by renowned chefs. Musical performances which had a blend of traditional African and Arabic melodies created a magical symphony.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), inaugurated the first edition of the Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL) under the theme “The Tale of Africa.”

During the opening ceremony, Nigerian Nobel laureate and renowned novelist Wole Soyinka was presented with the Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and HE Ahmed Al Ameri in recognition of his pioneering contributions to global literature and his commitment to social justice. Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, has crafted works that entwine African mythology with universal themes of freedom and equality. His contributions exemplify the power of literature to transcend boundaries and ignite transformation.