Abu Dhabi, December 27: Sultan Al Amimi, Director of the Poetry Academy at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), announced the start of registration for the second session of the poetry competition that seeks the best descriptive poems of camels as part of Al Dhafra Festival 2010.
The Festival is held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, from January 30 to February 8, 2010 in Madenat Zayed in Al Gharbia (The Western Region).
Amimi said the presence of a competition for Nabati poetry in the description of camels in Al Dhafra Festival strengthens the relationship between poetry and local heritage in its various forms, pointing to the success of the first session held early in 2009.
Nabati poetry is frequently used to describe camels.
Regarding the conditions for participation, poems must describe camels using the Nabati rhythm, rhyme and style of ‘Al Wanna’, ‘Al Radeha’, and ‘Al Taghrouda’.
The competition is open for all nationalities, but participants must be over 18 years of age. Each submitted poem must be no less than 18 verses and no more than 30.
Submissions are sent to poets@adach.ae before the deadline of the 3rd of January, 2010. The names of the winners will be announced one day before the end of the Festival on 7th of February, 2010.
Qualified poets are expected to attend the Festival in Abu Dhabi.
First-place winner will be given a car (Range Rover). Second-place winner gets 100,000 dirham, 90,000 dirham for third place, 80,000 to the fourth, and 70,000 dirham is handed to the fifth.
In the last session, Saudi poet Thaali Gazai Al Otaibi won first place after a strong competition with UAE poet Mubarak Al Mansouri, who won second place. Saudi Mohsen Sultan Al Dosari came in third place, beating Qatari Rashid bin Mohsin bin Kabida Al Marri, who finished fourth, then came in fifth place UAE Atiq bin Khalfan Al Kaabi.
The Dhafra Festival includes many events dedicated to preserve the local heritage such as a unique camel beauty contest and auctions, dates-packaging contest, a market for handicrafts, and a photography competition.
—Agencies