Tag: North Africa Records

ARABIC LANGUAGE: World Celebrates Arabic, ‘The Language of Poetry and the Arts’

  • UNESCO chooses theme for World Arabic Language Day 2023 
  • Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages, used daily by more than 400m people

Language is a main pillar of any society, and a driving force for connecting communities. As one of the six official languages in the UN, and one of the most spoken languages globally, Arabic is an incubator of culture, science and knowledge.

It is also one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, used daily by more than 400 million people.

World Arabic Language Day has been celebrated by UNESCO every year on Dec. 18 since 2012, the date coinciding with the day in 1973 that the UN General Assembly adopted Arabic as the sixth official language.

UNESCO recently chose “Arabic — the Language of Poetry and Arts” as the theme of World Arabic Language Day 2023 to highlight the role Arabic has played in poetry and art for centuries.

Experts told Arab News that Arabic has many characteristics and aesthetic values, both in written text and spoken discourse.

“Arabic language is very closely linked to the arts, literature and various cultural styles, from poetry to prose, to the rest of the literary genres, such as the story, the novel, the narrative, and poems in various artistic and scientific fields,” Mohammed Alfrih, a member of the board of directors of the Saudi ‎Publishers Association, said.

“We can hardly find another language that mimics the Arabic language in its elegance and its different expressive ability, and it is not surprising that non-native speakers confirmed that, let alone its native speakers,” he said.

Yousef Rabab’ah, a professor of Arabic language and literature at ‎Jordan’s Philadelphia University, said: “The Arabic language is characterized by features and characteristics in derivation, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions that make it able to keep pace with developments in various fields, and this is proven objectively.” 

Rabab’ah‎, who is editor-in-chief of Afkar Magazine, which is published by the Jordanian Ministry of Culture, said: “The Arabic language has been able throughout its history to influence many arts related to it, for example the arts of decoration, in which the Arabic calligraphy was essential in its formation. Artists were able to adapt the Arabic letters and Arabic calligraphy to produce artistic paintings and beautiful decorations that we see in places of worship, the walls of castles, palaces, and on the covers of books.

“Likewise, Arab voices, and the way they are performed and controlled, have a great role in the arts of singing, music and mirth, and we will not forget the plastic arts that adopt the formations of Arabic calligraphy which enter into the drawings of this type of art,” he said.

According to Hanan ‎Al-Sharnouby, assistant professor of literature and criticism at Alexandria University, the Arabic language has a profound association with various forms of arts, and it is necessary for those seeking to engage in linguistic arts and speech sciences to master the language.

Al-Sharnouby noted that language and art are interconnected, influencing each other. She emphasized that quality content for films, series, and theater necessitates a language that reflects Arab identity effectively and that the rich heritage of Arabic serves as a solid foundation for sophisticated art that fully engages its audience. 

Mohammed Daud, a professor of Arabic language and dean of the ‎Faculty of Linguistics at Sudan University of Science and Technology,‎ said: “There are formative and structural characteristics common to natural human languages, in addition to what is specific to each language.

“The Arabic language is distinguished by these formative and structural characteristics without the rest of the languages. It is represented by the fact that Arabic is concerned with the aesthetic values in the written text and spoken discourse, taking into account the semantic differences between words that appear synonymous in different structural contexts, which enabled it to express the same meaning in different ways and with amazing accuracy.

“This is reflected in its illustrative styles and its individual and collective creative arts, and applies to the ways of thinking of its speakers in their keenness to portray the details of artistic situations and the integrity of their creative production,” he said.

Daud said that the future of the Arabic language is bright due to the stability of its morphological, grammatical and semantic systems, and its ability to derive words and generate meanings through these means.

Tha’er Alethari, a professor of criticism and literature at University of Wasit in Iraq, said: “It is important to realize that Arabic is the only language in the world that has been understood for 2,000 continuous years.

“We read pre-Islamic poetry, understand it, and perhaps quote it on a contemporary issue, and this communication has given the language vitality and the ability to adapt to every era.

“There are two linguistic characteristics that helped it in this, the first of which is the abundance of linguistic roots in it, and the second is its etymological nature. Arabic does not depend on antecedents and suffixes in generating connotations, as is the case with most human languages. subject, noun, adverbs, etc,” he said.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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World Arabic Language Day has been celebrated by UNESCO every year on Dec. 18 since 2012. (Reuters)

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ARABIC LANGUAGE

MOROCCO Wins 6 Medals in Athletics, 4 in Judo in the 9th Francophone Games, Kinshasa, Congo

Morocco currently ranks first totaling a number of 38 medals, with 13 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze.

On August 3, Moroccan athletes bagged 6 medals in athletics and 4 in judo on a single day, confirming the Kingdom’s leading position at this ninth edition of the Francophone Games taking place in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In athletics and para-athletics, the women’s 5,000-meter discipline representing the Kingdom conquered the podium with a trio comprising Rahma Tahiri, who claimed the gold medal and set a new competition record with a time of 15 minutes 56 seconds 71 milliseconds.

In second place came Kaoutar Farkoussi with a time of 15 minutes 57 seconds 91 milliseconds, while Soukaina Atanane took bronze with a time of 16 minutes 05 seconds 34 milliseconds.

In the men’s 1,500 meters, the runners Hicham Akankam and Hafid Rizqy won gold and silver recording 3 minutes 41 seconds 08 milliseconds and 3 minutes 41 seconds 89 milliseconds respectively. 

In para-athletics, Abdelkbir Jaddi won bronze in the long jump with a leap of 6.30 meters.

In judo, Hassan Doukkali won gold in the under-73 kilograms category, while Chaimae Taibi, Hamza Kabdani, and Ziane Wissal took bronze in the under-63 kilograms, under-81 kilograms and under-57 kilograms categories respectively.

In the same competition event on Tuesday, Morocco claimed three simultaneous medals in the women’s 1,500-meter event.

The three Moroccan athletes who stood on the podium were Wafa Zaroual, Soukaina Hajji, and Rababe Arafi.

Morocco currently has a total of 38 medals, with 13 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze, well ahead of second-placed Romania with 25 medals.

This year’s Francophone Games, which runs until August 6, brings together 2,500 young people aged 18 to 35 representing 88 countries, including Morocco, to take part in the various sporting disciplines and cultural activities scheduled for this event.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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MOROCCO

EGYPT: Former President of E-JUST Ahmed El-Gohary Awarded Emperor of Japan Order of Rising Sun

Former president of the Egyptian-Japanese University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) professor Ahmed El-Gohary received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from the emperor of Japan on 31 July.

The order is in recognition of El-Gohary’s outstanding achievement for advancing the friendly relations between Japan and Egypt through promoting educational cooperation and scientific research exchanges over the years.

El-Gohary was crowned by Ambassador of Japan to Egypt Oka Hiroshi at the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Garden City. 

El-Gohary assumed the presidency of the university for eight years, enhancing the educational and research standard of E-JUST by actively accepting Japanese professors as its faculty members to introduce practical Japanese-style engineering education in E-JUST. In 2017, he contributed to the establishment of the new Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of International Business and Humanities. These two faculties are the two pillars to sustain E-JUST.

The ceremony was attended by members of the university’s board of trustees, led by ambassador Faiza Abul-Naga, University President Amr Adly, former minister of education Ahmed Zaki Badr, former minister of transport Galal El-Said, former governor of Daqahliya Kamal Sharubim, and Maher El-Domyati, former governor of Beni Suef.
Also in attendance were former Egyptian ambassadors in Japan Ayman Kamel and Hisham El-Zemiti, Director-General of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development Ambassador Nasser Al-Qahtani, President of the British University in Egypt (BUE) Mohamed Lotfy, professor Ahmed Bayoumi, former president of Mansoura University Salwa El-Ghareeb, as well as former secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Universities, and a group of scholars and researchers in various fields.

In his inaugural speech, Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi said, “El-Gohary’s long journey of cooperation with Japan started as many as 30 years ago in 1992 when he came to Japan as a JICA-trained student. In this training he had learnt the latest medical knowledge and advanced examination techniques.

When he returned to Egypt, as a lecturer at Suez Canal University, he not only used his experience to teach younger Egyptian students, but he generously shared his expertise with students from Africa through the JICA sponsored Third Country Training Programme since 1996.”

El-Gohary’s efforts promoted Third Country Training in Egypt. “Thanks to his pioneering role in promoting Third Country Training in Egypt, countless numbers of students and experts from Africa and Middle East have come to Egypt to benefit from this unique type of cooperation between Egypt and Japan supported by JICA.

The third country training programmes have now come to include many fields such as education, electricity engineering, agriculture, and freshwater aquaculture, in addition to health, making Egypt the hub of third country cooperation programme. Professor El-Gohary has thus made a significant contribution to the successful expansion of the Third Country Training Programme as vice president of the Suez Canal University, and then as president of Fayoum University.”

“When a plan was announced at the Japan-Egypt summit on the occasion of TICAD 7 in 2019 that E-JUST accept African students by offering as many as 150 scholarship over the three years, professor El-Gohary toured Africa to promote E-JUST to accept excellent students from Africa. Thanks to his dedicated efforts, promising African students from more than 10 countries are now pursuing higher study at E-JUST.

Building on this successful TICAD scholarship, Prime Minister Kishida and President El-Sisi agreed in their meeting in April this year to provide additional 150 TICAD scholarships to African students. This time scholarships will go to PhD students. Professor Gohary has contributed to make E-JUST as the Centre of Excellence in Africa,” added Ambassador Hiroshi.

The opening ceremony of the E-JUST main campus with the participation of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in 2020 was successfully organized by El-Gohary, contributing to enhancing the profile of E-JUST both inside and outside Egypt. 
The second phase of the campus construction, which was approved by the president at the time of the opening ceremony, is scheduled for completion soon. In addition, El-Gohary has made efforts to strengthen collaboration with industries by actively promoting joint research with Egyptian and Japanese companies.

El-Gohary expressed his pride and happiness at being crowned with this prestigious award, thanking the government of Japan for its close cooperation with Egypt to establish the Egyptian-Japanese University as a distinguished scientific and research edifice.

“I hope that the university will continue its growth and development in the future as a symbol of cooperation between Japan and Egypt,” said El-Gohary.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)

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EGYPT

EGYPT assumes Presidency of ‘Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions’ (ANNHRI)

Egypt assumed on Saturday the rotating presidency of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) during the convocation of the network’s conference and its 20th General Assembly in Cairo.

Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council of Human Rights (NCHR), took over the presidency of the network from Ahmed Bouhoubeyni, president of the National Human Rights Commission (NCDH) in Mauritania and ANNHRI chairman since June 2021.

Egypt previously assumed the presidency of the network in 2018.

The two-day conference represented an opportunity to discuss the main challenges facing national human rights  institutions to enhance the role of the networks and the international and regional organisations in promoting national human rights institutions.

The ANNHRI, established in 2011 in Nouakchott, is a regional network of Arab national institutions aiming to protect and promote human rights in the Arab world.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg/

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Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council of Human Rights

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EGYPT

MOROCCO: Nouhaila Benzina is the First Player to Wear a Hijab at the Women’s World Cup. Why were they once banned by FIFA?

When Nouhaila Benzina stepped onto the field for Morocco’s first match of the Women’s World Cup against Germany, she made history.

She became the first player to wear the Islamic headscarf at the senior-level Women’s World Cup. 

Had Morocco qualified for the Women’s World Cup a decade ago, a player who wanted to wear the hijab during a game might have been forced to choose between faith and football.

That was until 2014, when head coverings were officially authorised by FIFA.

Who is Nouhaila Benzina? 

She’s a 25-year-old defender on Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses.

In recent weeks, Benzina shared social media posts from others about the history-making nature of her World Cup appearance.

“Lots of work was done over many years, and thank God it had a positive result,” Benzina told Al Jazeera.

“We hope to play at a high level and honour Moroccans.”

‘That could be me’

Morocco are one of eight teams making their debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup this year, alongside Haiti, The Republic of Ireland, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam and Zambia. 

“We are honoured to be the first Arab country to take part in the Women’s World Cup,” Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak said on Sunday.

“Girls will look at Benzina (and think) ‘That could be me,’” said Assmaah Helal, a co-founder of the Muslim Women in Sports Network said of the hijab.

“Also the policymakers, the decision-makers, the administrators will say, ‘We need to do more in our country to create these accepting and open and inclusive spaces for women and girls to participate in the game.’”

Why did FIFA ban the hijab before? 

FIFA cited “health and safety” concerns, some related to possible choking, with regulations forbidding “equipment that is dangerous to himself or another player.”

An incident in 2007 instigated the official ban.

Canadian girl Asmahan Mansour — who was 11 years old at the time — attempted to wear a headscarf at a tournament but the referee said it wasn’t permitted. 

She was told she could remove it and play, but her hijab would not be permitted on the pitch.

When the issue reached FIFA, the sport’s global governing body banned head coverings in competitions it sanctioned, except for coverings that exposed the neck.

Initially, FIFA cited “religious symbolism” as a reason for not permitting head coverings. 

But considering the multitude of tattoos, signing of the cross and goal celebrations by footballers, it became too difficult to enforce.

Helal was among the social activists, Muslim athletes, and government and soccer officials who worked to overturn the ban.

Speaking on the 2007 ban, Helal said it “sent a strong message to Muslim women, particularly those who wear hijabs, (that) we don’t belong.”

A two-year trial was granted 

In 2012, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) allowed players to wear head coverings at international competitions over a two-year period following a request from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). 

No senior-level World Cups, men’s or women’s, were scheduled during the trial period.

Ban on head coverings lifted in 2014 

In March 2014, FIFA lifted its ban on head coverings.

The decision was announced at a meeting of International Football Association Board in Zurich.

FIFA’s then secretary general Jérôme Valcke said hijabs and turbans were permitted on the field. 

“It was decided that female players can cover their heads to play,” he said. 

“Male players can play with head covers too. 

“It will be a basic head cover and the colour should be the same as the team jersey.”

Helal said that since the ban was lifted, she has seen an increase in Muslim girls and women playing soccer, pursuing coaching pathways and leading their own football clubs.

“I think it’s key to understand that the hijab is an essential part of a Muslim woman, should she choose to wear it,” Helal said.

“It’s actually part of our identities.”

A Melbourne resident who attended Morocco’s public practice session last week, Maryan Hagi-Hashi, said she is supporting the Atlas Lionesses alongside tournament co-host Australia.

She appreciates the representation that the Moroccan team and Benzina provide, she said.

“There’s a mixture of (Muslim) women that wear hijab and don’t wear a hijab,” Hagi-Hashi said.

“I think the world has realised there is diversity.”

Two years after the ban was lifted, the under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan marked the first time Muslim players wore headscarves during an international FIFA event.

ABC with wires

source/content: abc.net.au / ABC News / (headline edited)

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pix: instagram.com/benzinanouhaila

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MOROCCO

TUNISIA: Dr. Erij Messadi & Prof. Mounir Bezzarga were Awarded 02 Gold medals at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2023.

This is a new consecration for Tunisia on an international scale. This is the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2023, one of the largest events dedicated to invention organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Swiss government. Two gold medals were awarded to Erij Messadi, researcher, and Mounir Bezzarga, professor, for their inventions.

Tunisia causes a stir with two revolutionary inventions

The two Tunisian winners were distinguished among a total of 1,000 other inventions from 50 different countries, thanks to the gigantic potential of their projects.

Dr. Erij Messadi, representative of the Institut de Pasteur, presented a one-of-a-kind project at this prestigious event. Baptized “Lebecetine, Lectin type C, as an inhibitor of neovascularization”, it was able to capture the attention of the public and was able to win the gold medal with congratulations from the jury. His innovative invention aims to demonstrate the crucial role of Lebecetine in blocking the formation of new blood vessels, which could slow the progression of several diseases such as cancer.

The ImmunoDefender project won in the Q category. Designed and produced by Dr. Mounir Bezzarga to fight against COVID-19, this winning invention continues to receive awards and shine on an international scale. After winning a prize at TICAD and another at the Euro-Mediterranean Intellectual Property Conference, this plant-based project was on the way to winning the gold medal with congratulations from the jury at the Geneva fair.

Beyond the obstacles, Tunisia continues to shine

Despite the turbulent political scene and the difficult economic situation, Tunisia continues to shine thanks to the exploits of its talents. Indeed, the country is always represented on the podium of international events, especially those dedicated to technologies and inventions. Tunisian inventors like Erij Messadi and Mounir Bezzarga are often awarded for their inventions covering several fields. All this bears witness to remarkable innovation and dynamism on the Tunisian scene.

This immense potential can only be an incomparable asset for our Tunisia. The future therefore looks promising in this area.

source/content: yaluna.tn (headline edited)

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pix: themaghrebtimes.com

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TUNISIA

JORDANIAN-AMERICAN: Farah Abu Adeela Crowned Miss Arab USA in Arizona Beauty Pageant

US Jordanian contestant Farah Abu Adeela from the state of Illinois was crowned Miss Arab USA at the beauty pageant’s finale in Arizona over the weekend.

The new Miss Arab USA, who is a model, takes over from 2022’s winner, Moroccan American Marwa Lahlou.

The annual pageant, which returned in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held in Arizona this year. Produced by The Arab American Organization (AAO), the pageant is “founded on the basis of advancing the cause of young ladies of Arab descent,” according to its website.

The swimsuit category does not feature in the pageant, with the stated aim of organizers being to “select an honorable Arab young lady to represent our culture in the US and worldwide for one year.”

This year’s ceremony featured a performance by dance troupe Zeffa of Phoenix.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Farah Abu Adeela nabbed the coveted tiara at the 2023 Miss Arab USA pageant. (Instagram)

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AMERICAN / JORDANIAN

ALGERIA: ’15th Arab Sports Games 2023′ at Mohamed-Boudiaf Olympic Complex, Algiers with Participation of 22 Arab countries, July 05-15.

PM chairs opening ceremony of 15th Arab Sports Games.

On behalf of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Prime Minister, Aimene Benabderrahmane chaired the opening of the 15th Arab Sports Games organized by Algeria from on 5-15 July at Mohamed-Boudiaf Olympic Complex in Algiers, with the participation of nearly 2,000 athletes representing 22 Arab countries.

The opening ceremony of the 15th Arab Sports Games hosted by Algeria (July 5-15) started Wednesday in the Mohamed Boudiaf Olympic Complex in Algiers, in the presence of Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane, members of government and guests from various countries and organizations.

source/content: aps.dz (headline edited)

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ALGERIA

EGYPTIAN-SCOTTISH Ayoub Sisters to Perform at King Charles’ Coronation in Edinburgh

Egyptian-Scottish classical duo the Ayoub Sisters are scheduled to perform at King Charles III’s coronation in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

“We are delighted to share that we have been invited by HM King Charles III to perform at his coronation in Edinburgh next week,” wrote the Ayoub Sisters on Facebook on Saturday.

“The ceremony is part of Royal Week, with the King and Queen undertaking several engagements in Scotland, and will be broadcast live on BBC One. Tune in on Wednesday 5th July at 1:30pm to watch the celebration unfold,” they added.

The Ayoub Sisters have taken the international music scene by storm since their debut at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016. Laura Ayoub plays the violin – performing on an 1810 J. Gagliano – and Sarah Ayoub masters the cello. Both play the piano. 

The internationally renowned duo were discovered by producer Mark Ronson.

Their young, albeit sparkling, career has led them to sign a contract with Decca Records, one of the UK’s biggest record labels playing at the BRITS and the BAFTAs. Their album topped the Official Classical Artist Albums Chart.

The duo explore many musical genres, starting from classical music to Scottish traditional repertoire, topping it with captivating arrangements of pop, funk, and world music.

Their virtuosity and creativity have taken them to many prestigious halls in the UK (the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, London Palladium) and the rest of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)

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SCOTLAND / EGYPT

U.A.E: Abu Dhabi schoolgirl ‘Amna Al Mansouri’ Crowned ‘UAE Arab Reading Challenge’ Champion

Competition also had a new category this year for disabled pupils.

An Abu Dhabi pupil was crowned the winner of the UAE Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai on Friday.

Emirati schoolgirl Amna Al Mansouri, who read 128 books during the academic year, took top spot ahead of more than 500,000 pupils.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, praised those who took part.

“Today, the UAE celebrated 514,000 students from state schools who participated in the Arab Reading Challenge – whose Arab and international participation reached 24.8 million students,” he said on Twitter.

“I congratulate Amna Mohammed Al Mansouri, and her family, for coming in first place. Amna read 128 books during the academic year.

“Two years ago, Amna lost the ability to walk, but that did not stop her. She soldiered ahead and sailed across the vast ocean of knowledge and literature. The challenge was the beginning of a life-changing experience.

“Today, Amna can walk once again, she has won the Reading Challenge and has authored two stories.

“She will represent the country in a few days at the International Physics Olympiad in Tokyo.”

Amna took the top prize ahead of Mohammed Al Hammadi and Iman Daoud.

The competition had a new category this year for disabled pupils. Emirati pupil, Ghareeb Al Yamahi, won first place, with Ghaya Zainallah coming in second place.

“I also congratulate the student Gharib Al Yamahi who won first place in the reading challenge in the category of people of determination,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Gharib is blind in sight but he is not a stranger in the path of achievement.

“Gharib read 130 books during the academic year in Braille. He is a writer of articles, a speaker and an inspiration to all of us. When a blind person reads 130 books, sighted people should review themselves.

“All the best to Gharib who, with his persistence and willpower, represents the saying that ‘nothing is impossible in the UAE’.”

The ceremony was attended by Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology.

Largest in the world

In May, Sheikh Mohammed  said the annual Arab Reading Challenge  had become the largest event of its kind in the world.

He said 24.8 million pupils from 46 countries had taken part in this year’s competition.

It was launched in 2015 to encourage a million young people to read at least 50 books in a year.

The challenge usually starts at the beginning of the academic year, around September, and continues until the end of the academic year.

The Arab Reading champion is selected based on the pupil’s ability to articulate general knowledge, critical thinking and communication skills, plus the diversity of books they have selected.

A Syrian schoolgirl who survived a deadly missile attack during the civil war in her country was crowned the Arab Reading Challenge Champion in November.

Sham Al Bakour, who was seven when she was named winner, was only six months old when her family’s car was struck during violence in Aleppo in December 2015.

Her father was killed while she and her mother survived the horrific attack.

She completed a remarkable journey from tragedy to triumph to win words of praise from Sheikh Mohammed.

The young literature lover read 70 books to win the competition.

When asked about what she would do with the Dh1 million ($270,000) prize money, she said she would give it to her mother.

source/content: thenationalnews.com (headline edited)

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The UAE Arab Reading Challenge prize ceremony was held in Dubai.

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ARAB WORLD / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)