Al-Safeer cultural festival concludes in Kufa Mosque

KUFA — In the splendid ambiance of Kufa’s Grand Mosque, where chandeliers cast a gentle glow upon ceilings adorned with intricate glasswork and Quranic verses grace the walls, a unique cultural event unfolded. Amidst this sacred setting, poets, artists, and intellectuals gathered to showcase their work, transforming the mosque into an extraordinary venue for the 13th edition of the Al-Safeer Cultural Festival.

The three-day event in Najaf province garnered significant interest from Iraqi and Arab intellectuals, particularly those from North Africa. It showcased 90 diverse contributions, encompassing research papers, novels, short stories, children’s tales, plays, and 67 films hailing from 11 Arab and various other nations.

Ali Sahib, the Secretary-General of Kufa Mosque, told 964media that the Al-Safeer Cultural Festival was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the arrival of Muslim ibn Aqeel, the cousin of the revered Shia Imam Hussein, in Kufa, where he was killed by Umayyad rulers in the seventh century. He said it complemented its previous editions, having produced 766 works over the past 12 years.
The festival has only recently added short films and both classical and colloquial poetry, serving as an international media window for the city of Kufa.

Sahib highlighted the significance of poetry at the festival, stating, “Poetry, the unifying language of the Arabs, led the organizing committee to include poets from across the Arab world to document the event and connect with the Arab audience.”

Mabrouk Al-Sayari, a Tunisian poet, spoke to 964media about his experience in Najaf, particularly in Kufa’s Grand Mosque, where he participated in a poetry evening as part of the festival’s events. Al-Sayari said the festival represented a significant shift for him both personally and poetically, noting that everything about it was different compared to other festivals, given that it carried a religious and spiritual theme. He recited poetry that emphasized the need for more verses about the Prophet Mohammed and his family. Al-Sayari encouraged people to visit Iraq for festivals and other events.

Sahar Al-Mashhadi, a researcher and lecturer, spoke to 964media about her findings regarding traditional professions historically linked with Kufa. Her research highlighted roles such as “Al-Tamara,” weavers, tailors, boat builders, potters, and skirt makers—industries that still thrive in Kufa’s large traditional souk. Additionally, she noted the production of wicker industry, mats, and soaps, which were critical for the city’s public baths, a cultural legacy inherited from the Sassanid era like the Hammam A’yn.

“Regrettably, many of these [traditional industries] have disappeared, and Kufa must endeavor to revive this heritage,” Al-Mashhadi said.

Here is the list of winners across different categories in the festival:
Novels:

Mohammed Al-Quraishi
Hussein Neama Hussein
Taher Al-Kaabi

Quranic Research:

Haider Al-Aridi
Dr. Ammar Abdul Zahra
Dr. Basem Al-Hasnawi
Investigative Category:

Dr. Diaa Al-Haidari
Hakim Al-Griti
Abdul Ilah Al-Ardawi

Authorship:

Dr. Sahar Naji
Haider Al-Aridi
Mohammed Reda Al-Sherifi
Short Stories:

Taleb Kadhim Akkar
Huda Jabbar Al-Gharawi
Hussein Neama Hussein

Children’s Stories:

Mohammed Jafar Mansoor
Aqeel Abdullah Hussein
Khetam Al-Mayali

Articles:

Ammar Hassan Abdul Zahra
Neama Al-Abadi
Hussein Neama Hussein

Films:

Hussein Alaa – Wax Museum / Iraq
Hussein Amhinu Mehr – Martyr’s Gift / Iraq