Sharjah 24: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Arabic Language Academy (ALA) in Sharjah, organised an event in the Gambian capital, Bingul, titled “The Arabic Language in Gambia between the Past and the Present,” in cooperation with the Amaanah International University, under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Islamic and Arabic Education in Gambia.

This came with the participation of five researchers who discussed in their theses the topics of the Arabic language in the era before independence, in comparison with its presence during the era of the First Republic and before the founding of the secretariat. They also examined the experience of teaching the Arabic language in Gambia.

The event, which was attended by more than 100 academics, students, and members of the organisational and preparatory committees, was organised based on the importance of developing Arab-African relations in the field of spreading the Arabic language and its culture, with the aim of monitoring and documenting the efforts of ancient and contemporary institutions and individuals in the field of the Arabic language in Gambia. 

The event aims to strengthen relations with governmental and private institutions in Gambia in order to advance the Arabic language and enhance community members’ belonging to the Arabic language.

The event also seeks to enhance communication between researchers and academics specialising in the Arabic language and open the way for them to exchange expertise and experiences.

A number of researchers and academics specialised in Arabic research and literature, and Arab culture on the African continent, participated in preparing the event’s research.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Mohammed Safi Mustghanmi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy(ALA) in Sharjah, said: “The African continent represents a point of great interest from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to enhance the role of the Arabic language among its peoples, because of the strong ties and deep connection that its people show with the Arabic language, as it represents for them a symbol of belonging and cultural cohesion despite the multiplicity of the indigenous languages of the population.”

He added: "This event reflects Sharjah's efforts to strengthen cultural communication relations with various peoples and cultures, and confirms its pioneering role in supporting the presence of Arab culture at the regional and international levels. Sharjah is moving its journeys among the people of the world who, if they do not belong to Arabic with their tongues or nationalities, they are connected to it with their souls, and they are united by the bond of the Islamic religion, whose Holy Quran was revealed in a clear Arabic language, or they are united in the Arabic language by a look of appreciation for the deeply rooted Arab civilisation, whose landmarks were established by the people of Arabic from various continents of the world.”

The event concluded with a poetry evening, which included literary debates between a number of prominent poets in Gambia, where awards were distributed to the outstanding poets at the poetry evening in appreciation of their creativity and efforts in enhancing the status of the Arabic language in Gambia.