Month: November 2021

18th November – Saudi Ministry of Culture hosts ‘1st Islamic Art Biennale’ at the Islamic Museum in Riyadh to mark ‘UNESCO’s International Day of Islamic Art’

18th November .

The day aims to raise awareness about the art of Islam and its contribution to culture and civilization. The ministry is working with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization to produce the Biennale.

Islamic art is not restricted to religious art — it includes the art of the rich and varied cultures of Islamic societies throughout history.

It is a complex art to define because it spans over 1,400 years, covering many lands and populations, and is not restricted to a single medium. Instead, Islamic art covers a range of artistic fields, including architecture, calligraphy, painting, glass, ceramics and textiles.

Last year, Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan designated 2021 as the Year of Arabic Calligraphy in appreciation of its importance in expressing the Arabic language’s historic significance. The ministry has launched “The Calligrapher Platform,” an electronic platform to teach Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation with the support of the Quality of Life Program.

The International Day of Islamic Art was proclaimed at the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2019 and takes place every year on 18 November.  It aims to raise awareness of past and contemporary artistic expressions of Islam, and the contribution of culture through Islamic Art to civilization. 

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: en.unesco.org

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SAUDI ARABIA

Aziza Chaouni Awarded Bronze for Sustainable Project at 6th Int’l Holcim Awards,Venice : November 13th, 2021

Aziza Chaouni. Architect. Educationist. Teacher.

The Fez-born architect was honored for her project on addressing climate change-induced tribal displacement.

The Moroccan architect earned both the Global Holcim Awards Bronze prize and the Acknowledgement Prize for her project “Cultural Interlude.” The project draws a self-sustaining music school and ecotourism center that aims to preserve the tribal cultural heritage in an oasis located in the town of M’Hamid El Ghizlane, in Zagora province. 

Chaouni is also the co-founder of the Bureau of Ecological Architecture and Systems of Tomorrow (EAST) with Takako Tajima, a renowned landscape architect based in Southern California. Tajima has won many prizes, including The Architectural League Prize from the Architecture League of New York in 2009.

www.azizachaouniprojects.com

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com

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Aziza Chaouni awarded at 6th International Holcim Awards / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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CANADA / MOROCCO

Emirati Rashid Al Mulla Wins Freestyle in UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship : November 2021

The Abu Dhabi Aquabike Team has recorded a new success for Emirati sports, with Rashid Al Mulla winning the title in the “Freestyle” category in the final round of the World Aquabike Championship, which was held in Kuwait.

The championship, witnessed the participation of 52 bikers from 26 countries from throughout the world.

Al Mulla won the gold medal and the overall title, reaching 100 points in the overall standings of the competition.

The Emirati’s latest triumph came after Abu Dhabi team-mate Emma-Nellie had won the ladies title in the Parallel Slalom World Championship staged under floodlights on Friday evening.

Al Mulla’s title is one of the new achievements for the Emirati team this summer, especially after the Abu Dhabi Team won gold and the title in the Formula 2 World Championship, as well as gold and silver in the 12-hour Formula 2 World Championship, in addition to leading the current world championship standings.

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Muslim World League Launches Exhibition on Prophets’ Lives at Expo 2020 Dubai : November 2021

he 25 prophets and messengers mentioned in the Qur’an will be introduced in five different languages.

The Muslim World League has launched an exhibition on the lives of the prophets at its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion.

“The Prophets As If You See Them” uses the latest technology to present the biographies of Islam’s prophets and messengers.

It sheds light on the messages of peace, love, affection, tolerance, coexistence, and humanity that they brought to the world.

Visitors can learn about the prophets’ titles, nicknames, characteristics, morals, childhoods, relatives, the books that were revealed to them, the miracles they performed, and the languages they spoke.

source/content: arabnews.com

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The Muslim World League has launched an exhibition on the lives of the prophets at its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion. (Muslim World League)v/ pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

9th Ajyal Film Festival 2021 – Winners of Ajyal Jury Competition and Made in Qatar Awards : November 2021

The ninth Ajyal Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute announced the winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition and the Made in Qatar Awards in a festive closing ceremony at Katara Cultural Village.

Winners of the Made in Qatar Awards:

  • Best Narrative Award: Olayan (Qatar, 2021) by Khalifa Al Marri
  • Best Documentary Award: And Then They Burn The Sea (Qatar, 2021) by Majid Al Remaihi
  • Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Performance Award: Saleh Salem Al Marri for Olayan
  • Special Jury Mention: Virtual Voice (Sudan, Qatar, 2021) by Suzannah Mirghani

Winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition Awards are:

  • Mohaq:
    • Best Short Film Award: Umbrellas by José Prats, Álvaro Robles
    • Best Feature Film Award: Poupelle of Chimney Town by Yusuke Hirota
  • Hilal:
    • Best Short Film Award: Olayan by Khalifa Al Marri
    • Best Feature Film Award: Captains of Zaatari by Ali El Arabi
  • Bader:
    • Best Short Film Award: When Beirut Was Beirut by Alessandra El Chanti
    • Best Feature Film Award: Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege by Abdallah El Khattib
  • Audience Award: ORCA by Sahar Mossayebi

This year’s esteemed international Made in Qatar Awards Jury included actress Sheila Vand; Executive Board Member and CEO of Katara Studios Ahmed Al Baker, and Farah Nabulsi, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker. Jurors were divided into three age categories: Mohaq (8–12-year-olds), Hilal (13–17-year-olds), and Bader (18–25-year-olds).

The week-long festival, held under the theme, ‘Press Play!’ signifying the aspirations of the community to return to normalcy, featured 85 films from 44 countries, including Qatar. The programme included 31 feature films and 54 shorts from accomplished directors as well as first-time and emerging talent. 22 of the films are by Arab filmmakers, with 32 helmed by women filmmakers – nearly a third, highlighting the significant role of female talent.

Ajyal featured 13 films supported by the Doha Film Institute, including recipients of the Spring/ Fall Grants, co-financing, Qatari Film Fund and mentorship through the year-long labs and development workshops. The 2021 Made in Qatar programme presented by Ooredoo, had 10 films representing promising homegrown talent and storytellers.

The seven-day festival featured a diverse mix of virtual and in-person events including film screenings, interactive discussions, multi-media art exhibit, Qatar’s largest pop-culture event Geekdom, and a drive-in cinema as part of a multisensory experience for all ages.

source/content: www.iloveqatar.net

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On the cover image: Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Abdulla Al Mosallam with the team of Captains of Zaatari. / Source and image credit: Ajyal Film Festival

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QATAR

‘The Gravedigger’s Wife’: A Somali Love Story Wins Africa’s Top Film Prize : October 24th, 2021

Khadar Ayderus Ahamed. Writer. Film Director.

Movie by Finnish-Somali writer-director Khadar Ayderus Ahmed won the Stallion of Yennenga grand prize at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou.

A little more than one month after it won the Amplify Voices Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Gravedigger’s Wife  has scooped Africa’s top film prize.

The drama, by Finnish-Somali writer-director Khadar Ayderus Ahmed, won the prestigious Stallion of Yennenga Grand Prize for Best Film at the Pan African Film Festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Sunday.

Filmed in Somali in Djibouti, the tenderly moving story of love and devotion follows Guled (Omar Abdi), a man who makes a precarious living from loss.

The film took home the 20 million franc ($35,714) CFA prize money and the golden stallion statue, beating 16 other African films to the top prize. The films in competition were made by directors from 15 different African countries.

It was also Somalia’s first official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2021 Academy Awards, and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in July.

source/content: thenationalnews.com

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Khadar Ayderus Ahmed, left, Yasmin Warsame, centre, and Omar Abdi attend ‘The Gravedigger’s Wife’ photocall during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. / AFP / thenationalnews.com

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FINLAND / SOMALIA

Amira Tahri: 12-Year Old Dutch-Moroccan Kickboxer Retains World Champion Title for 5th Time : November 2021

Amira Tahri (aka) Wonderkid, The Wonder Girl. Athlete. Kickboxer.

The kickboxing star won the title after she defeated her French rival, Shaina Moniek in the Abu Dhabi World Cup final.

Amira Tahri also made international headlines in 2019, when she was only 9 years old.

During the 2019 competition, Tahri defeated Moneik, the same opponent she faced during Friday’s fight, to secure her world championship for the fourth time.

The Dutch-Moroccan kickboxing star also shared a photo of her wearing a COVID-19 mask, with Morocco’s flag.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com

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Amira Tahri 12-Year Old Dutch-Moroccan Kickboxer Becomes World Champion for 5th Time. Photo: Amira Tahri Instagram / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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DUTCH (NETHERLANDS) / MOROCCO

UAE Retains Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Title. Sets a New National Record of 53 Medals Tally: November 11th, 2021

The UAE national Jiu-Jitsu team came through an intense final day on the mats to retain their Ju-Jitsu World Championship title at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City.

Setting a new National Record of 53 medals.

Leading the medal table heading into final day, the country’s elite adult athletes grabbed another four medals, two silvers and two bronze, to take their medal tally to 53 across five days of intense competition in the men and women Under-16, Under-18, Under-21 and Adult divisions.

It was a fine return for the strong team, who did the host nation proud and set a new national record, beating the 52 medals in the previous edition, in front of a vociferous crowd at the home of jiu-jitsu. The 53 medal tally put the UAE Falcons on top of the world ahead of RJF in second and Kazakhstan in third place.

The first two medals of the day came from Wadima Al Yafei, 45 kg and Saif Al Hemani, 85 kg, clinching the bronze. Cheered on by a knowledgeable crowd, Hamdah Al Shkeili produced a fine performance to win silver in the women’s Adult 45kg event. The UAE’s 53rd and final medal of the championship came when jiu-jitsu legend Faisal Al Ketbi took silver in the men’s 85kg final, narrowly losing out on gold to Australia’s William Diaz.

The record-breaking performance enhanced the UAE’s reputation as a jiu-jitsu nation and provided the country’s leading athletes with the perfect preparation heading into the 13th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the largest and most prestigious championship on the global jiu-jitsu calendar, which runs from 14-19 November, at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena.

“As the defending champions the pressure was on our athletes to perform this week and match the performance of previous years. They showed great heart, desire and commitment to not only match previous editions but set a record for the number of medals,” said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, General Secretary of UAEJJF.”

Al Shkeili, who added a silver in the Adult 45kg to the gold medal she won in the Under-21 45kg category, the only UAE athlete to win two medals this week, said: “I couldn’t have wished for this. It was great experience just representing the UAE on this stage. To win a gold and a silver really is a dream come true.

The UAE national team ended the championship with 18 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze medals. RJF in second, collected 15 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze, with third-placed Kazakhstan taking 8 gold, 6 silver and 23 bronze.

The UAE will host the 27th Ju-Jitsu World Championship in 2022.

source/content: wam.ae

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pix: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

AUC Celebrates Inauguration of its First Ever Arab President Ahmed Dallal : October 25th, 2021

The American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrates the inauguration of Lebanese American scholar Ahmed Dallal as its first Arab president throughout its 102-year-long history.

The AUC named Dallal, a former provost at the American University in Beirut (AUB) and a professor at many universities in the US, as its 13th president.

Dallal is an engineer, a former dean of Georgetown University in Qatar, and also a prominent scholar of Islamic studies, with many publications in this field.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the AUB and his MA, MPhil, and PhD in Islamic studies from Columbia University.

He has written dozens of articles, book chapters, and publications, as well as several books.

Established in 1919, the AUC has been among the top-ranking universities in the Arab World, ranking first in Egypt and second in Africa, according to the 2020 QS World University Rankings.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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Ahmad Dallal, the AUC s 13 president (Photo courtesy of Georgetown University)

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AMERICAN / LEBANON

Emi Mahmoud – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

Emtithal ‘Emi’ Mahmoud. Poet. Activist. Author. Speaker. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

June 2018 : UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, appointed the Sudanese-American slam poet Emtithal (Emi) Mahmoud as a national Goodwill Ambassador (US).

Author: Book titled Sisters’ Entrance

www.emi-mahmoud.com

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pix: www.emi-mahmoud.com

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AMERICAN / SUDAN