Sulaymaniyah Hosts 27th Edition of the Galawezh Cultural Festival

Kurdistan 03:35 PM - 2024-12-05

Galawezh Festival kicks off in Sulaymaniyah.

Sulaymaniyah is hosting the 27th edition of the Galawezh Cultural Festival, a prestigious event that brings together guests from around the world and offers a range of cultural activities.

The opening of this year’s festival was marked by the presence of prominent figures, including Ms. Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, First Lady of Iraq, and Hama Hama Saeed, Minister of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Region. The event also welcomed a wide range of officials, intellectuals, writers, and authors.

On the festival’s first day, 12 Kurdish, Persian, and Arab researchers are participating in the event. This year’s festival, which is funded by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), will feature 180 literary figures, celebrating the rich cultural and literary heritage of the Kurdistan Region.

The Galawezh Festival continues to serve as a significant platform for fostering international dialogue and highlighting the artistic and intellectual achievements of the Kurdistan Region.

The festival began with a minute of silence in honour of the martyrs, after which Dr. Ibtissam Ismail Qadir, President of the Galawezh Centre, delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the Galawezh Cultural and Literary Centre. She greeted the attendees and highlighted that the Galawezh International Festival has been a significant cultural event for 27 years, thanks to the dedication of the organisers and supporters.

A message from the Minister of Culture was also shared, in which he welcomed the guests and expressed hope for the continued success of the festival, which champions Kurdish culture and language.

Next, a speech by Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, was read by the Minister of Culture. In his address, he remarked: "The Galawezh Festival is one of the proudest achievements of the Kurdistan Region and the city of Sulaymaniyah, representing an integral part of the identity of the cultural capital, reflecting the spirit and history of this city, which has always been a hub for poetry, literature, and culture in Kurdistan."

The message continued: "Sulaymaniyah, which has maintained its identity as the capital of culture for two centuries, sees the Galawezh Festival as a crucial part of this identity, and it continues to evolve."

The Deputy Prime Minister added: "Sulaymaniyah’s pride lies in the fact that freedom of thought and expression is a guaranteed right. This is one of the greatest outcomes of the uprising. We will continue to work towards expanding this freedom, addressing any shortcomings or neglect in this area, and ensuring a livelihood for writers and intellectuals, without imposing restrictions on their creative work."

The opening session of the festival then featured a musical performance by singer Diyari Qardaghi, accompanied by the Sulaymaniyah Orchestra, followed by a recital of poems from the renowned Kurdish poet Jamal Ghambar.

 

PUKMEDIA