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File · Said Yaktine named Cultural Personality of the Year at Sharjah book fair

In Sharjah, Said Yaktine calls for passing on popular culture

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Reports published on 6 November 2026 describe a discussion with Moroccan critic Said Yaktine at the Sharjah International Book Fair. Named the edition’s Cultural Personality of the Year, he argues for preserving oral traditions and local memory.

In the session moderated by poet Shaikha Al Mutairi, Yaktine recalls the storytellers and popular neighbourhoods that shaped his childhood in Morocco. He sees those practices as contributors to cultural identity.

He urges writers to engage with world literature while asking questions rooted in their own societies. His comments on urbanisation and digital habits are cultural analysis, rather than an announcement of public policy.

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