Yemeni writers mark Algerian Revolution Golden Jubilee [Archives:2006/919/Local News]
SANA'A, Feb. 1 – Three young Yemeni writers snatched $1,000 awards in a literary contest organized by the Algerian Embassy in Sana'a to mark the 50th anniversary of the Algerian Revolution.
A collection of poets, writers and intellectuals attended a celebration event Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Yemeni Writers Union, which included a number of speeches. They pointed out the importance of using literary expression to commemorate great events. They also praised inter-Arab cultural cooperation.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Maqaleh, Cultural Advisor to the President and Director of the Yemen Center for Research and Study, and Algerian Ambassador to Yemen Sa'd bin Al-'Abid presented awards to the winners.
Some 14 candidates earlier submitted contributions in the fields of poetry, theater and story writing, from which three works were selected and awarded. Ahmed Al-Wafi won the poetry award, Wajdi Al-Ahdal won for theater and Samir Abdulfattah won for story writing.
Winning selections were made by a panel of judges consisting of Al-Maqaleh, Dr. Abdul-Wase' Al-Himiari, Ali Al-Sallal and Dr. Abdullah Hussein Al-Bar. The winning works were chosen in light of certain objective and aesthetic criteria such as artistic elegance and well-knit performance.
Writers Union President Al-Bar expressed his pleasure at the contest, saying the Algerian Revolution was distinguished by a considerable amount of sacrifice indelibly engraved in Arab memory. He noted that Yemeni poets and intellectuals shared in morally supporting the revolution in the past. “This contest shows the cultural victory of the Yemeni writer and his ability to live up to the contemporary history of his [Arab] nation,” he added.
Writers Union Secretary-General Huda Abalan also praised the competition. “The contest revitalizes the memory of the young Yemeni generation by writing on great nationalist issues such as the Algerian Revolution,” she said. She hoped that such a cultural activity would be organized annually as it enhances and prompts literary creativity. Embassy sources noted that the literary contest was organized exclusively in Yemen.
Known as the One Million Martyr Revolution, the Algerian Revolution erupted in 1956, ultimately ending French colonization in that part of the Arab world.
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