February 2016 Global Arab and Arabic Literary Events Calendar
As usual, events that celebrate (or support, or criticize) Arab and Arabic literature in some sort of translation. Please email or add more below.
February 1
Vigil and Reading for Ashraf Fayadh (Los Angeles, USA)
Outside the Saudi Consulate in L.A. Details here.
February 2
The Politics of Translation: Everyday Life in Iraq and the Middle East (Washington, D.C., USA)
ArabLit’s M Lynx Qualey will be on this panel. Details here.
February 4
Muqtatafat: An Anthology of Independent Comics from the Arab World (Cambridge, USA)
“Celebrate the publication of Muqtatafat, the first anthology of independent comics from the Arab world published in the U.S. Explore the vibrant and diverse world of Arab comics with editors Paul Beran and Anna Mudd along with publisher Dan Mazur of Ninth Art Press at the Cambridge Public Library Lecture Hall, 449 Broadway Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.” Details here.
Following the Books: A Journey Alongside Arabic Literature (Washington, D.C., USA)
This is a talk by ArabLit’s M Lynx Qualey. Details here.
Abu Tammam in Leiden (Leiden, Netherlands)
Beatrice Gruendler, editor-translator of The Life and Times of Abū Tammām by Abū Bakr al-Ṣūlī, will be giving the fourth Leiden-Aramco Lecture on Arabic Language and Culture at the University of Leiden. Details here.
February 6
Memorial Service for Poet Fathieh Saudi, 1949-2016 (London, England)
From 4 to 6 p.m. at the Mosaic Rooms in London. Details here.
February 7
Discussion with Reem Bassiouney, Author of Mortal Designs (Cairo, Egypt)
This event will be held at the CAC in Ma’adi, and AUCPress says there will be no entrance fee. Details here.
Through Feburary 7
Pens and Cartoons: Arab Comics in Motion (Madrid, Spain)
Pens and Cartoons: Arab Comics in Motion aims to provide an “overview of current comics and graphic novels in the Arab world through 23 works produced from 2007 to 2015, all very representative of the creative response by Arab writers and illustrators to the social and political transformations occurring over the last decade.” Details here.
February 8
Zakaria Tamer at Wanderlust (London, England)
Tamer in conversation with Malu Halasa and Alice Guthrie. Details here.
February 9
International Prize for Arabic Fiction Shortlist Revealed (Muscat, Oman)
International Prize for Arabic Fiction organizers will reveal their shortlist and panel of judges on February 9. Details here.
Through February 10
Cairo International Book Fair (Cairo, Egypt)
Theme this year is “Culture on the Frontlines.” Includes tens of events, including a discussion with award-winning Iraqi novelist Ali Bader about his new novel, The Godless Woman.
February 14
Salon du Livre with Mazen Kerbaj (Casablanca, Morocco)
Spend your Valentine’s Day with Mazen Kerbaj at a book signing and public talk. Details here.
February 16
Hisham Bustani at the Zeytinburnu Short Story Festival (Istanbul, Turkey)
From February 16 – 20, Bustani will be the guest of the Zeytinburnu Short Story Festival in Istanbul, where he’ll present two readings and present a talk on the short story form.
February 18
Palestine: Nothing Makes Sense Why Should I?: A Book Performance by Suad Amiry (New York City, USA)
From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The James Gallery. Details here.
Paul Starkey & Youssef Rakha in conversation with Gaby Wood (London, England)
Starts at 6:30 p.m. at Waterstones. Details here.