The First Al-Bayyati’s Festival In Australia
By Marcelle Mansour
The first Al-Bayyati Festival of “Abdul Wahab Al Bayyati League For Poetry, Lietrature and Culture” was held at Monamor reception, Fairfield on 17 June 2015, under the auspices of
the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
in Australia. In the presence Mr Shorsh Ako who presented the Kurds' representative in Australia, His Excellency Haval
Syan; Mr Mozaffar, representing the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq; Media Representatives and elite of the Australian Arabic communities’ members who
appreciate culture.
Significant
speeches were delivered by Mr Shorsh Ako, Mr Mozaffar, and
the Rev Frather Yousif
Jazrawi, President of Al Bayyati League.
Master of Ceremony (MC) was performed by Iraqi poet Mr Haidar Kareem.
Leading Poets participated
in poetry reading received awards in recognition of their contribution in
advancing Arabic poetry in Australia, namely, the two Australian Iraqi Poets Mr
Yehia Samawi and Mr Makki Al-Rubaie, the two Australian
Lebanese poets Mr Charbel Baini and Mr Antoine Kazzi and also the writer/journalist
Mr Abdul Wahhab Talabani.
Al-Bayyati’s certificates of appreciation
and medals, were delivered in its first Festival this year (2015) to a number
of Australian creative people including: Mr Ahmed al-Yasiri (Iraqi poet), Mr
Shawki Moslemani and Mr Wadih Saadeh
(both Lebanese poets), Mr Sarkis Karam (Lebanese writer), Mr Adel Deno and Mr
Namrood Salioh (both Syriac poets), the Australian Palestinian Fine Artist and
Writer Mrs Marcelle Mansour (the writer of this report), Dr Sahar Alsomiei, and
to the soul of the late Dean of Journalism in Australia (Botrous Indari) where
his wife Lamya received the award on his behalf.
It is worth-mentioning that an honorary
award will be send from the festival management to the poet Abdul
Wahhab Al-Bayati’s daughter who resides in the United States of America,
in the memory of her father‘s significant contribution in
Iraqi and Arab literature world.
The cultural event was highlighted by
beautiful music and songs of Al-Bayyati’s poems which were performed by both
singers Mr Ismael Fadel and
Ms Lena Souro where the violin player was
Imad Rahim.
It was a successful cultural event indeed
for the first Al-Bayyati Festival. Congratulations to the committee members of Abdul Wahhab Al Bayyati League for Poetry,
Literature and Culture and to all the award recipients with best wishes for
more bright achievements in the future.
