The ‘Dean of Arabic Literature’ Taha Hussein has been named by Abu Dhabi International Book Fair as the Focus Personality for this year’s edition. He was a role model who paved the way for generations of writers.

The panel discussion titled ‘Taha Hussein: Insight of Mind’, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), discussed the legacy of the great Egyptian author and critic.

Moderated by Dr Nashwa Al Ruwaini, the seminar brought together Her Excellency Dr Enas Abdel Dayem, Egyptian Minister of Culture; Dr Ammar Ali Hassan, novelist and researcher in political science; Dr Asma Al Moqbel, Assistant Professor at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia; Dr Hayan Juma Al Saei, critic and translator, and Egyptian academic Dr Muhammad Abu Al-Fadl Badran.

HE Dr Abdel Dayem asserted that Taha Hussein is one of the greats of Arab history, a widely influential name in Arab and international thought, and a role model whose career opened people’s minds.

She said: “Taha Hussein championed science and knowledge as the way to people’s minds. He promoted the values of love and peace, ensuring his name would live on as an exceptional Egyptian figure. He is so much more than a figure in our heritage and history, or our envoy to the West, collecting prestigious scientific credentials, he was a storyteller, novelist, and literary critic. Hussein was an accomplished writer leading a discussion on contemporary intellectual movements; he was an amalgamation of all these traits and brought great knowledge to humanity.”

Her Excellency applauded ADIBF 2022 for its efforts to celebrate Hussein as its Focus Personality, stressing the importance of celebrating such figures that Egypt and Arab culture have presented to the world. “This reaffirms that our culture does not only celebrate our past, but also looks forward to our future, and our knowledge is meant to foster communication,” she said.

Dr Ammar Ali Hassan said: “In just one year, we will be marking half a century since the Dean of Arabic Literature passed. Taha Hussein had a keen insight into nearly every topic; his masterpiece ‘The Days’ laid the foundation for the art of the autobiography and broke new ground in Arabic literature. The book created an entirely new style; Taha Hussein pioneered a text that is comparable to ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ in the place that it occupies in our Arab heritage, and he wrote it in just nine days. He wanted his ideas to reverberate in people’s lives, so he established himself as an intellectual who is accessible to everyone.”

Saudi academic and critic Dr. Asma Al Moqbel applauded Abu Dhabi International Book Fair for its commitment to highlighting a great literary and intellectual talent like the "Dean of Arabic Literature" Taha Hussein, who is considered one of the most important Arab literary figures.