Honoring Dr. Abdelmajid Jihfa at the Nazaaha Poetry Festival
The Dar of Poetry in Marrakech recently celebrated the esteemed researcher and translator, Dr. Abdelmajid Jihfa, at the inauguration of the sixth edition of the 'Nazaaha Poetry' festival. This year’s festivities commenced in the picturesque setting of Oulad Baraka in the Ouled Tamim region of Sakhour Rahmana, with the event set to traverse deserts and mountains, reaching various localities and communities. Born in 1959, Dr. Jihfa has dedicated his life to exploring profound intellectual questions, serving as the head of the Laboratory of Literature, Linguistics, and Translation, and significantly contributing to the research collective in short stories (Ibn Mesik Sidi Othman). His extensive work includes various publications in linguistics and translations that delve into themes such as modern semantics, the temporal system of verbs, and Arabic language nuances, enriching human culture through his scholarly inquiries that consistently engage with both cognitive and humanitarian questions.
Poetic Performances Amidst Nature
The festival's inaugural event, hosted in the charming locale of Sakhour Rahmana, was coordinated with the Oulad Khalifa Association for Solidarity and the Environment, which greatly appreciated this unique initiative by the Dar of Poetry in Marrakech. They recognized the significance of selecting Oulad Baraka as a venue for the poetic celebration, as well as honoring one of Morocco's cultural and critical icons, Dr. Abdelmajid Jihfa. The festival's choice to highlight such a figure exemplifies a thoughtful approach to giving the concept of honor a deeper symbolic and cultural significance.
Moreover, the event featured a poetic gathering titled 'Kalam Mursaa,' which was skillfully presented by the poet Zina Bouhia, a native of the area and a member of the Dar of Poetry in Marrakech. The gathering showcased a variety of poets and poetesses who contributed to the rich tradition of zajal poetry, drawing inspiration from the rural milieu through a unique linguistic and thematic framework. Poets such as Halima Mujahid, Hamid Benkhiy, and Abdullah Shouka shared their reflective experiences and compositions with the audience along the banks of the Oum Er-Rabii River, amidst the lush greenery, celebrating themes of womanhood and the literary craft. The Hamada Ben Jerrir troupe also contributed to the event by performing a segment dedicated to exploring Moroccan heritage through eloquent words complemented by collective dancing.
In its opening remarks, the Dar of Poetry in Marrakech emphasized that this cultural and poetic event aims to foster closer connections between creatives and audiences, particularly in regions far removed from the bustling city of Marrakech. This initiative is part of a strategic vision to promote accessibility to poetic expressions and cultural diversity across all six regions under its purview. By organizing cultural and poetic programs in remote areas, the Dar of Poetry seeks to celebrate poetry as a manifestation of human joy and integrate it within the fabric of Moroccan society.
Thus, the Dar of Poetry and its affiliated poets continue to solidify their cultural presence within the Moroccan community through diverse and enriching cultural and poetic programs. This ongoing journey into distant regions, traversing mountains, plains, beaches, and deserts, reinforces the concept of a citizen-oriented cultural institution, creating moments of collective joy and establishing new frameworks for the aesthetic exchange of poetry. The event symbolizes a vibrant collective artistic expression that reflects the Moroccan spirit and heritage, preserving the collective memory of Moroccans.
As reported by alyaoum7.ma.
