German Readings at the Egyptian Cultural Office in Berlin's Celebration of World Arabic Language Day

The Egyptian Cultural Office in the German capital, Berlin, in cooperation with the University of Münster and the University of Marburg, organized a cultural event celebrating "World Arabic Language Day" on Thursday, December 18, via the Zoom platform, with the participation of a distinguished group of academics, researchers, and students interested in the Arabic language.

The event opened with a welcoming speech by Dr. Sameh Sarour, Director of the Egyptian Cultural Office in Berlin, who emphasized the importance of the Arabic language as one of the living global languages and its historical and contemporary role in knowledge production and promoting dialogue between cultures, especially within the European academic context.

The event included a scholarly lecture delivered by Dr. Asim Hefni from the University of Marburg, in which he discussed the status of the Arabic language, its cultural and scientific dimensions, and its role in building bridges of civilizational communication.

The celebration featured distinguished German readings of Arabic texts, reflecting the deep interest of German students in the Arabic language and its literature; student Skyler from the University of Hamburg read the poem "If the People One Day Will to Live" by the Tunisian poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi. Additionally, student Gillesco Hetschof from the University of Marburg presented excerpts from an interview conducted by Al-Hilal magazine with the Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Gibran about the future of the Arabic language, an article published in 1920.

Student Johannes Hostoffer from the University of Münster also participated by reading a text from a short story about dates and grapes as found in one of the books of Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti.

The main segment of the event concluded with a special reading by Dr. Ahmed Balboula, Dean of the Faculty of Dar Al-Ulum at Cairo University, who recited the poem "Events in the Nile Valley."

During his participation, Dr. Balboula expressed his great happiness and deep emotion upon hearing Arabic poetry and texts recited by German friends and students, affirming that this reflects the vitality of the Arabic language and its continuous ability to communicate across cultures.

At the end of the meeting, the Egyptian Cultural Office in Berlin thanked Dr. Ingy Abdel Aziz and Dr. Asim Hefni for their scientific and organizational efforts, and also appreciated the participation of German students and their active role in the success of this cultural event.

This celebration comes within the framework of the Egyptian Cultural Office in Berlin's keenness to support the Arabic language, enhance its presence in German academic institutions, and encourage cultural and scientific exchange between Egypt and Germany.