Events Archive

During the two day festival, the programme included over 30 individual events and provided visitors with a unique opportunity to gain an insight into Arab culture through a wide array of live and scheduled workshops, speeches and seminars in poetry, storytelling, fashion, film screenings, photography, calligraphy, art exhibitions, language taster classes, music, live entertainment, food tasting and more.

EdArabFest 2016

• Meet, Greet & Eat ☆: Networking & Open Language Exchange Event [4th Mar 2016]

• Meet, Greet & Eat ☆: Networking & Open Language Exchange Event [8th Jan]

• Arabic Documentary Film Screenings Week (by Al-Jazeera Documentary Channel) [13th Jan 2016]

EdArabFest 2015

Opening Ceremony (Lectures & Keynote Speeches)

• EdArabFest Director’s Opening Speech

• Opening Speech, by Prof. Charlie Jeffery, Senior Vice Principal, University of Edinburgh.

• Keynote Speech (1): Scotland and Arabic (from 1311 until 2015), by Mr Leslie McLoughlin, Interpreter to HM The Queen and HMG 1983-2009; Honorary Research Fellow (Exeter University)·

• Keynote Speech (2): 1001 Inventions Versus 1001 Nights, by Emeritus Prof.  Salim T S Al-Hassani (Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation)

Open Exhibitions & Art Galleries (Art)

• The Souq (السوق): The EdArabFest 2-Day Marketplace

• Maroc: Photography Exhibition

• Mosaic Art  & Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition

• Children Activity Corner

• Exhibitors Forum

• Al-Meida Corner (ركن المائدة): Flavours From Around the Arab World

Food Tasting

• Food Tasting Session

• Moroccan Tea Ceremony & Tasting

Calligraphy Corner

• Calligraphy Exhibition by Calligrapher Jawad Sabagh (Iraq)

• Calligraphy Exhibition by Calligrapher Abaoubida Mohamed (Morocco)

• Calligraphy Exhibition by Calligrapher Asim Khogeer (Saudi Arabia)

• Calligraphy Exhibition by Calligrapher Azim Rehmatdin (Scotland)

Arabic Calligraphy Workshops

• The Charm of the Ink (سحر المداد):  Arabic Calligraphy Workshop & Live Demo, by Jawdat Khadim (Iraqi Calligrapher)

• Elegance of the Letters:  Arabic Calligraphy Workshop, by Asim Khogeeer, (University of Edinburgh)

Let’s Learn Arabic!: Arabic Language Taster Classes

• Syrian Arabic: Taster Language Session  by Safaa Radoan (Al-Maktoum College)

• Egyptian Arabic:  Taster Language Session, by Phil Hermina (U. of Edinburgh)

• Moroccan Arabic: Taster Language Session, by Zakaria Berrada (University of Edinburgh)

• Palestinian Arabic: Taster Language Session, by Abla Oudeh (U. of Edinburgh)

• Gulf Arabic: Taster Language Session, by Zakaria Berrada, (U. of Edinburgh)

Guided Tours

• Treasures from the East: Guided Tour to the U. of Edinburgh’s Library Special Manuscript Collection, by Dr. Richard Todd (University of Edinburgh)

Literature Seminars & Poetry Readings

• Readathon of Works by Zakaria Tamer: The Great Syrian Short Story Writer (Banibal Literature Magazine)

• Arabic Poetry Evening by Iyad Hayatleh (Arabic-English)

• Arabic Poetry Evening: A Bird is Not a Stone, by Christine De Luca (Scottish Poet) & Abla Oudeh (Translator & Lecturer)

• The Art of Qur’an Recitation & Adhan (Call to Prayer): Workshop, by Sohaib Saeed (Quranica)

• A Conversation with Two Young Libyan Authors: Ghazi Gheblawi and Mo  Mesrati (Panel Discussion) (Banipal Magazine)

• Book Launch Event (Teach Yourself Arabic Series) (John Murray ltd)

• Cultural Podcasting in Arabic: The Imtidad Podcast Experience (Banipal Magazine)

• ​Tricksters, Thieves and Heroes in Medieval Arabic Storytelling (Literature Session & Panel Discussion) (SOAS)

  • 1.  The Trickster in Arabic Literature and Beyond: A discussion by Emily Selove (U. of Exeter)

  • 2.  Readings from 1,001 Nights and Arabic Popular Epic: Two Stories in English, by Helen Blatherwick, (SOAS, U. of London).

  • 3.  Bravery and Eloquence: A discussion and recital (in Arabic and English) of poetry from the medieval Arabic popular epics (the siyar sha ‘biyyah) by Peter Phillips and Tareq al-Rubei, (SOAS, U. of London).

• Writing From the World’s Biggest Prison: Gaza (Reading & Discussion with the Author Atef Abu Saif) (CommaPress)

Film Screening & Panel Discussions

• Documentary Film Screenings, by Al-Jazeera Documentary Channel

• The Naqab Bedouin: Change and Continuity: Film Screening & Discussion, by Sophie Richter-Devroe (University of Exeter)

• “Solomon and The Queen”:   Film Screening, bySohaib Saeed (Quranica)

Children Activities

Children Activity Session

• Activities: Children Storytelling, Ceramic Tile Painting, Palm Leaf Weaving, Henna Artist, Face painting, Arts & Crafts, Jigsaw Games, Competitions, and Free Balloons, Paper Flags and Festival Cupcakes for every child. (Organised in partnership with the Royal Botanical Gardens and Banipal Magazine)

Live Entertainment and Music

• Live Entertainment & Music Performance: Folkloric Dance and live music