Baghdad – IA – Ahmed Sumaisem
The Shehab International Storytelling Arts Festival opened its first session on the stage of the Al-Rashid Theater in Baghdad, which is organized by Al-Huda Foundation for Children and Youth Culture in cooperation with the Department of Cinema and Theater, with the participation of a number of Arab and foreign countries, and in the presence of the Palestinian ambassador in Baghdad and a number of artists.
Festival director Jalil Khazal said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “the festival is considered the oldest of its kind in Iraq with its first session, which bore the name ‘Palestine’,” indicating that “the festival came about the necessity of educating children by telling ancient inherited stories related to civilizations and cultures.” Countries in light of the technological development that has contributed to the disappearance of this type of storytelling art.”
He added: “The brightest stars of the art of storytelling in the world and the Arab world participated in the festival, from Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, France, and Iraq. Over the course of three days, they presented the most beautiful folk tales from each country.”
Khazal pointed out that “the festival calls for children to learn the culture of peoples and beautiful stories through the stories that were presented, which contain many valuable wisdom and lessons.”
For his part, the executive director of the festival, the artist Hussein Ali Saleh, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), “The art of storytelling is this beautiful heritage that has unfortunately disappeared on the map of Iraqi art, which carries an educational, moral, and even entertaining message for children.”
He added: “Through the Shehab International Festival for the Art of Storytelling, we tried to bring back heritage and stories in a modern way through the use of modern technologies represented by cinema screens and puppets, with the presence of the storyteller character who narrates the story in front of the children.”
Saleh pointed out that “the festival is unique. A festival for the art of storytelling has never been held before in Iraq with wide Arab participation, and it was dedicated to supporting the children of Palestine and showing solidarity with them.”
The Saudi artist, storyteller Fatima Al-Hajji, indicated to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “her participation in the festival came to support emerging children by presenting stories that children had not known before in light of the modern technological revolution.”
She added: “Iraq today is witnessing a fertile land and a new era for the establishment of important artistic activities in its various branches. Therefore, holding the Shihab International Festival for the Art of Storytelling was necessary to shed light on activities directed to children who we always see forgotten.”
