Mohamed Salmawy: “Culture is the Nation’s Identity, Its Shield Against Fragmentation”

Amid the bustling halls of the Sharjah International Book Fair, Egyptian author and novelist Mohamed Salmawy reflected in an exclusive interview with See News on a career spanning decades in literature and journalism, following his selection as the fair’s Cultural Personality of the Year. For Salmawy, the recognition is more than personal—it embodies a vision of culture as a guiding principle for life.

“Receiving this honor from Sharjah holds a special meaning,” Salmawy told See News. “Sharjah is not just a city; it is a comprehensive cultural project established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who made culture a way of life. This is exactly what the Arab world needs today to preserve its shared identity amid challenges that threaten our cultural values.”

Reflecting on his path, Salmawy described the intersection of literature and journalism in his life. “When I studied English literature, I sought a deeper understanding of literary structures rather than adopting a foreign culture. But I soon asked myself: should I spend my life teaching literature while society faces pressing issues? Meeting Mohamed Hassanein Heikal changed everything; journalism became the bridge linking thought with reality.”

Salmawy emphasized the differing nature of words in literature and journalism: “The word is a weapon in both fields, but its nature differs. A journalist conveys the moment, while a writer reflects on it, giving it a broader human dimension. Journalism operates in daily time, literature in human time.”

On digital media, he noted, “Social media has freed human awareness from the monopoly of official media. Take the Palestinian issue: new media allowed the West to recognize its justice after decades of distorted coverage. The world can now see the truth without intermediaries.”

Asked whether literature predicts the future, he replied: “A writer does not predict; he sees what others do not. Through deep awareness, a writer can sense forthcoming signals. Literature is naturally foresightful, not because the writer is a soothsayer, but because it mirrors human thought.”

When asked if he feels his career has reached its peak, Salmawy reflected: “Every new work feels like my most important, yet new ideas constantly pull me back to the page. That is the gift of creativity—it never rests.”

Concluding his conversation with See News, Salmawy said: “Culture is not a luxury; it enables humans to understand themselves and their society. What Sharjah is doing is an open invitation for Arabs to hold on to their identity through books and knowledge.