The second edition of the Wadi Al Helo Days for poetry began on Thursday evening at Al Qal’ee celebrations square casting a magical spell on listeners.

The new edition’s theme revolved around traditional poetry and dance in neighboring Arab countries with the aim of revitalising the musical, artistic and cultural movement in Wadi Al Helo, for the the family and society in general.

The event is held under the patronage of Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and organized by the Eastern Region Office at the Department of Culture.

Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Chief of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office in Kalba and Sheikh Saeed bin Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Chief of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office in Khor Fakkan opened the first night of the Festival that included a visual show of the history of Wadi Al Helo on its historical, cultural, and natural milestones.

Three-day festival 
The program would also include an operetta on the mountains of Wadi Al helo. The three-day festival will cover many cultural and musical performances with international bands, theatre performances and poetry evenings.

Acts included on the first day were ‘The Art of Rababa’ by Za’al Al Ta’amsa, a traditional Jordanian musician who played on the folk instrument of Bedouin culture Rababa.

‘The Art of Al Azai’ was presented by Al Shaba Dancing Band from Nazwa State in Oman, ‘The Art of Ayalah’ by Kalba Traditional Arts and Theatre Society, and Farqat Sout Al Ordon presented the Jordanian Dabka.

Among the other acts were the poetry recital by Mohammed bin Hamed Al Manhali and AbdulAziz Al Aliwai.

The Festival will continue to run until Saturday with other groups and poets including, Iraqi musician Anwar Abu Daregh, who will present Iraqi scales on the Oud instrument, Emirati poets Abdullah Al Jabri, Mohammed Hashim Al Sharif, and Saif Al Saadi, Saudi poets Dr Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Malki and Fahd Al Sharani, and Omani Hamad Al Yahyani and Talal Al Shamsi, and Kuwaiti poet Mohammed Al Sawagh.

Source :Al Arabiya