Irbid, Jordan: The Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCY) recently took part in a ceremony where the Jordanian city of Irbid was named as the Capital of Arab Culture by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) for the year 2022.
Celebrating the occasion, the Ministry had organized musical performances by the Emirates Music Ensemble who presented two concerts.
1ST CONCERT
The main stage of Irbid Cultural Centre hosted the 1st concert by Emirates Music Ensemble on 10th of August.
The event was attended by Mr. Radwan Al-Atoum, the Governor of Irbid and the Representative of the Minister of culture, Mr. Munther Bataina, the head of the Executive Office of the ceremony along with intellectuals and members of the community.
The Ensemble entertained the audience with a collection of heritage songs from Emirati, Arab and Gulf folk collections, as well as songs by leading Arab singers.
2ND CONCERT
Organized on the 11th of August, the 2nd Concert was hosted by the Visitor Centre of the ancient city of Umm Qais, where the audience enjoyed a range of musical performances reflecting authentic Emirati art and heritage.
We congratulate our brothers in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the naming of the city of Irbid as the Capital of Arab Culture for the year 2022. This title highlights Irbid’s status as a key figure in Arab culture and arts and acknowledges the role of culture as a soft power on the global stage. With its cultural roots going back centuries, the city of Irbid has been a centre of poetry, arts, theatre and singing, and has gifted the Arab world with several icons. This title is an opportunity to further explore the city’s historical and contemporary contributions to culture and recognise its status on the Kingdom’s cultural map.
Ms. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth shared on the occasion
.The Minister further added that, “This participation embodies the strong brotherly ties that bind the UAE with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in various fields, especially our cultural ties and historical relations dating back to the era of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late King Hussein bin Talal. The relations between the two countries are built on affection and shared heritage that live on even today in the hearts of our people.”
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Other events, namely “Chrysanthemum City” and “The Bride of the North”, will continue throughout the year featuring artistic and musical performances.
They will also host cultural activities such as;
- Poetry Evenings
- Critical Sessions and Seminars,
- Panel discussions on local and Arab affairs
- Women’s and Children’s literature seminars
- Talks on scientific culture and fields of innovation with the participation of a selection of Academic and Artistic figures.
A range of exhibitions of plastic arts will also be organized highlighting political, literary and social figures from Irbid, who have contributed to elevating the city’s status as a leading cultural model in the Arab world.