International ‘Kitab’ Symposium Explores the Legacy of Andalusian Poetry

Scholars and researchers highlighted the global influence of Andalusian poetry during the fourth international symposium of Kitab magazine, held over two days as part of the Sharjah International Book Fair’s cultural program.

Organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, the symposium—titled “Composing the Garden: Readings in Andalusian Poetry and the Transformations of Influence”—brought together leading Arab and international academics to present studies on the historical, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions of Andalusian verse.

Participants discussed how Andalusian poetry enriched world literature through its lyrical themes, philosophical reflections, and linguistic beauty, shaping Orientalist studies, Spanish Arabism, translation movements, and comparative literature. The event featured papers on topics ranging from early poetic modernity and the symbolism of nature, to women poets of Al-Andalus and cross-cultural links reflected in the works of Federico García Lorca and Mahmoud Darwish.

The symposium’s proceedings were compiled into a dedicated volume released during the fair, which continues through Nov. 16 at Expo Centre Sharjah.