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• Encyclopaedia to Provide In-depth Insight into Unique Literary Genre

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation today announced it will publish the world’s first comprehensive ‘Arabic Narrative Encyclopaedia’, exploring, analyzing and documenting this unique Arabic literary genre.
 
Including seven volumes, the encyclopaedia will compile critical data on the development stages of the narrative genre of Arab literature and portray its salient features.
 
The Foundation’s path-breaking research will also explore the evolution of the Arabic narrative tradition through various period of the region’s literary history. Starting with the pre-Islamic era, the study will cover Arabic narrative works extending over a period of almost 15 centuries. The project also aims to highlight key features of both classical and contemporary Arabic narratives.
 
Jamal Al Shehhi, Director–Culture Development, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: “Our target is to present a reliable reference for scholars, researchers and the general readers with authentic information on one of the important literary forms in the Arab culture.
 
“The art of narration constitutes an integral element of the Arab cultural heritage. Our objective is to acquaint the younger generation with the roots of their literary heritage and motivate them to utilise it as an inspirational source for scholastic excellence.”
 
The exhaustive body of work, scheduled for publishing before end 2010, will be produced in collaboration with leading Iraqi author and researcher Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim.
 
A culture advisor at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, Qatar, Dr. Abdulla Ibrahim will put his extensive expertise behind the research team that will lead the development of the new encyclopaedia. Dr. Ibrahim is an authority in literary research. In addition to his widely acclaimed academic lectures at a number of leading Iraqi and Qatari universities, Dr. Ibrahim has contributed to several regional and international literary forums.
 
Praising the Foundation’s role as a catalyst for cultural development in the Arab world, Dr. Abdulla Ibrahim said: “Our intention is to build an encyclopaedia that will provide Arab readers with an enhanced understanding of this unique genre that has not been accorded the attention it deserves.
 
“Despite its unique literary value, the Arabic narrative has fallen victim to mixed interpretations of its verbal references. There is a lack of adequate research into its mythology, which has led to a shallow understanding of its true essence. Through an analytical approach to numerous samples of texts representing key narrative schools, the encyclopaedia will help reverse this drawback and promote better understanding of Arabic narrative among scholars, researchers and keen readers.”
 
Through its series of knowledge, culture and literary initiatives, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation proactively seeks to create a society of informed and talented individuals dedicated to the overall community development.
 
Marking its endeavour to enrich the Arab literary world, the Foundation is currently pursuing various programmes such as ‘Tarjem’ that aims to translate 1,000 international bestsellers into Arabic within three years, and the Dubai International Poetry Festival to bring to Dubai more than 1,000 poets of international repute over the next five years.

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