Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the 7th Samaâ Tassaout Forum for Sufi Culture and Arts. Organized by Al Kawtar Association for Madih and Samaâ, and Heritage Preservation. The Forum is held under the patronage of Morocco’s Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Communication, and the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council. Spanning over the period of 21 – 23 November 2024, the Event is part of celebrating Marrakech as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024.

The Session, titled “Aesthetics and Irfan in the Literary Projects of Abdelilah Benarafa,” took place on Thursday 21 November 2024, at the Faculty of Arabic Language at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech. It featured a distinguished audience of writers, critics, and researchers who presented various academic and critical papers on Dr. Benarafa’s contributions. The discussions highlighted his role in reshaping the Arabic narrative structures and his contributing an intellectual and aesthetic experience to the art of storytelling. The Session also included an open dialogue between Dr. Benarafa and the attendees.

At the conclusion of the Session, the director of the Samaâ Tassaoutt Forum presented Dr. Benarafa with an honorary shield.

The 7th Forum also includes a wide array of cultural and artistic activities, including Samaâ and Madih sessions, as well as spiritual evenings, featuring prominent artists and musical ensembles from across the Arab world.