The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has launched Kanz Al Jeel Award at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) to celebrate the rich history and heritage of Nabati poetry.

Nabati is a form of vernacular poetry that stems from the many varieties of Arabic in the Arabian Peninsula, which contrasts the poetry written according to the classical rules of literary Arabic. The Award honours Nabati poetic works, as well as folk studies and research studies into the subject. It aims to preserve the traditional heritage of Nabati poetry for the next generation. Candidates will compete for a share of total prize pool of AED 1.5 million.

The launch ceremony for the Kanz Al Jeel Award was attended by His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC; Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Management of Festivals and Cultural and Heritage Programmes in Abu Dhabi, Chairman of the Award’s Higher Committee; H.E. Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Acting Director General of the National Library and Archives and Member of the Higher Committee of the Kanz Al Jeel Award.

Moderated by Emirati poet and media personality Shaikha Al Mutairi, the launch event was also attended by Higher Committee Members Saeed Hamdan Al Tuaniji, Acting Director General of the ALC, and Dr. Dheya Al Kaabi, Assistant Professor of Narratives and Modern Literary Criticism at the University of Bahrain.

H.E. Dr. Ali bin Tamim said: “Today, we celebrate the launch of an exceptional award that brings tremendous value and depth to our cultural scene. It derives its name from one of the poems of our Founding Father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and reflects his wisdom, passion for poetry, and his vision, which helped cement this literary genre in the hearts and minds of all Emiratis and Arabs.”

The award is a promising step towards enriching the local and Arab cultural and literary landscape with new poetic models that serve to introduce readers to this artform, enrich Arabic libraries, preserve this piece of our heritage, and promote it as a literary genre that reflects our societies and their aspirations,” H.E. bin Tamim added. “The award is supervised by a jury of renowned experts and literary and intellectual figures with extensive expertise in Nabati poetry and its history.”

For his part, Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei said: “Launching this award reflects the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s commitment to protecting and promoting our heritage, and encouraging a sense of loyalty and belonging to nation. The award’s name is reminiscent of an expression that can be found on multiple occasion in a poem by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, where the word ‘Jeel’ refers to poems and is the colloquial Emirati form of the word ‘Qeel’ (what was said).”

“The award celebrates Nabati poetry and seeks to promote the poetry of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” Al Mazrouei added. “It will undoubtedly be a notable addition to the poetic arts and to the Sheikh Zayed Poetry Encyclopaedia, a priority area for the ALC. With that in mind, we extended the application period to receive entries for the first edition of the award until July 30, 2022, in order to attract the largest number of creative people who are passionate about this poetic and literary genre.”

On the same note, H.E. Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji said: “The great value this award brings is perhaps most evident in its unconventional theme and name, boasts a unique aesthetic and points to a meaningful objective. Popular poetry today needs this kind of award in order to reach the world, and go beyond the bounds of spoken poetry, limited to its local audience and culture. We strive for the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair to be a launchpad for the award. We deeply value the importance of Nabati poetry and its close connection with our culture; it is an integral part of the culture and civilisation of the Emirati and Arab people.”

Meanwhile, H.E. Abdulla Majed Al Ali asserted: “The UAE stands firmly at the forefront of the cultural scene in the region. This award follows in the path of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the tremendous value that it represents. It is inspired by a wise leader who always associated civil and societal development with intellectual advancement, knowledge, and culture. We are committed to supporting Nabati poetry, as well as all academic studies, research, and translations related to it. We strive to communicate it to other cultures so that they can explore our identity, and we encourage the youth to explore Sheikh Zayed’s poetry and great legacy, and transform it into images and songs. This is truly a unique award and we are certain it will carve a niche for itself from the very first edition.”

For her part, Dr. Dheya Al Kaabi said: “The poems of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan cemented the importance of Nabati poetry, marking its continuity through the generations. It established poetry as a transient artform. The late Sheikh Zayed’s poetry was exceptional, as was his political and social wisdom and his approach to building bridges with other countries. When we look back on what he said in interviews, we find poetry that speaks of wisdom. We hope that this award will promote his values, support academic studies of Nabati poetry, and motivate Arab researchers and orientalists to keep up their efforts and continue to advance and promote this artform.”

Nominations are open until 30 July with individuals, literary unions, cultural institutions and universities invited to submit in any of the categories of the award, except the ‘Creative Personality’ category, where nominations are only accepted from academic, research and cultural institutions, or high-profile literary and academic figures.

Candidates are required to have actively contributed to enriching local and Arabic poetic, critical, or artistic movements. Nominated works must also feature a high level of originality and innovation, making a significant addition to human culture and knowledge. Each candidate can submit only a single entry for one of the award’s categories. A nominated work cannot be submitted for another award in person or by proxy in the same year. Nominated works must be written in Arabic, except for the Translation and Studies and Research categories, which consider poems translated from Arabic into other languages.