It was a literary evening to remember. Under a star-spangled sky, among sand-dunes, caressed by a cool night breeze, flanked by open tents (in which some enthusiasts chose to sit), one listened to poetry in Arabic and English. ‘Desert Stanzas: Poetry and Music under the Stars,’ was a special event of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, held recently in Dubai.
It was one of the many events at this prestigious seventh edition, which was organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It was conducted in partnership with Emirates and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, which is the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for arts, culture, and heritage.
There was an impressive line-up of 150 writers, thinkers, and speakers, and the 200 sessions were spread over five days. Among the well-known names were David Mitchell, Alexander McCall Smith, Joanna Trollope, Lewis Dartnell, Graeme Simsion and Michael Morpurgo. (Full list at www.emirateslitfest.com)
The range of subjects on the menu included adventure, war, mystery, cookery, children’s stories and horror. Genre-bending novelists such as Jasper Fforde added to the variety. Awards were given out in various categories of writing. As author Simon Singh said, “The festival has now grown to a point where there is truly something for everyone. At any time of the day, any visitor who walks in will surely find something, somewhere to interest him or her.”
Besides the authors, there were literary agents, journalists, critics, dramatists, historians, biographers, illustrators, translators, adventurers, aspiring writers, and representatives of publishing houses in attendance. And of course, the readers! Thousands of visitors, the locals and people from around the world, gathered at the venue, where talks, panel discussions, workshops, competitions, and cultural performances were also held. Events specially designed for children, sales of books, and book signings added to the excitement.
The opening ceremony, which one sadly missed, was spectacular by all accounts. It had a 400-strong children’s choir--all UAE students--performing alongside famous musicians, noted speakers and the intricate, life-size War Horse puppets, Joey and Topthorn. The celebrated horse puppets, presented by Handspring Puppet Co. and Janni Younge Productions stole the show at their War Horse Concert.
The sessions offered opportunities for close encounters of the literary kind. Writers shared their experiences, interacted with the audience and sportingly posed for photos with their adoring readers.
With fans present in full force, top authors faced long queues for book-signings. There were a few debutant authors, thrilled to be present at their first lit fest as authors.
In the session, ‘The Wonderful World of Mma Ramotswe,’ the genial Alexander McCall Smith talked about the protagonists of his books. The author’s sense of humour drew laughter as he interacted with the moderator and the audience, especially when he talked of his other and 'non-literary' achievement---being founder-member of The Really Terrible Orchestra made up of musically challenged persons!
Elsewhere, in a session ‘What is the Arabic for Selfie?,’ interpreter and historian Leslie McLoughlin, spoke of the intricacies and beauty of the Arabic language and the pleasure and pitfalls of translation.
In a session titled, ‘Post-Trauma, Regaining Wonderland,’ a panel of three ---Deborah Rodriguez, Owen Sheers, and Saira Shah --- discussed the cost of war and political turbulence, and their impact on writing. Among other sessions were those titled, ‘Creativity and Mental Illness,’ ‘Lost or Gained in Adaptation?’ -- the ‘Journey from Page to Screen,’ and ‘Getting Your Story into Print.’ The simultaneous translations from English to Arabic and vice-versa wherever applicable were welcomed by the audience.
One of the most popular festival events -- for which tickets were quickly sold out --- was the ‘Murder Mystery Dinner.’ A play was enacted by a local theatre group in which a person was murdered, off-stage. The audience was divided into groups, each assigned to a table along with one author to play detective and was allowed to question the suspects who were at the end presented in a line-up. There was a prize for the winning group.
One was in a group that, in spite of heated discussions, got the motive and the murderer wrong! But the reward was being part of an enjoyable and innovative theatre experience.
Most attendees also found the festival gratifying. Said Alexander McCall Smith: “As authors, we are delighted to be here as it gives us a wonderful opportunity to meet hundreds of readers. Given the multicultural nature of Dubai and the visitors from around the world, we meet a large cross-section of readers.”
