The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has published the book “Marrakech from the Perspective of Contemporary Arabic Literature,” as part of the celebration of the ochre city as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world for 2024, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him. The Book includes the scientific articles presented during the symposium organized on March 7 and 8, 2024, by ICESCO and the House of Poetry in Marrakech, in coordination with the Faculty of Arabic Language, which saw the participation of a host of professors, researchers, and poets with critical interventions, poetry readings, and a Malhoun music concert.

In the book’s preface, Dr. Majdi Bin Haji Ibrahim, Head of the Arabic Language Center for Non-Arabic Speakers at ICESCO, explained that the book is divided into two main parts; the first focusing on the works of the opening session of the Symposium, chaired by Mr. Abdelhaq Mifrani, which included three interventions, the first by Dr. Ahmed Kadem on “The Suburbs of Marrakech in the Novel ‘Blad Bellarg’ by Ahmed Louizi,” The second by Dr. Adil abdellatif on “Marrakech in the Tales of the Past,” The third by Dr. Warda Al-Bartaie, on “Marrakech in Narrative Discourse, the Historical Novel by Ahmed Taoufiq, ‘Abu L-‘Abbas’s Neighbors,’ as an example.”

The second part of the book is dedicated to the works of the second session of the Symposium, chaired by Dr. Said Aouadi, with three interventions as well. The first is by Dr. Mohammed Zouhair entitled: “Marrakech in Contemporary Arabic Poetry, a Memory of Exchange and a Space of Sharing,” the second by Dr. Abdelkabir Minaoui under the theme: “Marrakech, Source of Writings,” and the third by Mrs. Touria Iqbal titled “Marrakech, Beacon of Radiance.”

The interventions examined literary and critical approaches regarding the image of Marrakech in contemporary Arabic storytelling and poetry; an image inspired by the rich and diverse material and immaterial heritage of this enchanted city as well as the achievements of its scholars, artists, and creators in various fields of knowledge.