05-05-2025
Oman's creatives shine at the Book Fair
The 29th edition of the Muscat International Book Fair has just concluded, with over 650,000 visitors having shared in the rich and vibrant atmosphere of the event, according to officials. The central theme 'Cultural Diversity as a Pathway to Unity' was truly reflected in the wide fare offered as well as the range of visitors who came from many parts of Oman and the world.
What most significantly stood out in the book festival was the interest shown by young Omanis towards fiction, translation and educational books.
The internationalisation of Omani literature is evident in author Ammar al Naaimi's works. 'Sarim', 'Hazim' and 'Mumeet' can be seen to be a trilogy inspired by the Harry Potter series but firmly rooted in the Omani Jinn tradition. His exploration of the power of choice in the individual's life combines deeper philosophical questions with racy narrative enjoyed by the Gen Zs.
Interest in Omani fiction has resulted in the translation of Jokha al Harthi's 'Celestial Bodies' into 21 languages so far. Her other novels, 'The bitter orange tree' and 'Silken gazelles' have also been translated into English, receiving rave reviews. Dr Claudia Ott, the translator of 'Celestial Bodies' into German, was in fact visiting the fair this year and spoke at length about the depth of the novel and its capacity to break established stereotypes.
Another translation on the anvil is Bushra Khalfan's 'Dilshaad'. Set in 20th century Muscat, the novel explores the everyday lives of Omani families, with the central character Dilshad, his daughter Maryam and grand daughter Fareeda. This award-winning novel now is being translated by Alice Guthrie. The novel is said to have been earlier translated into Persian.
Translations of Omani fiction into English, German and French languages create opportunities for the dissemination of Omani culture into contexts where Oman still remains a mysterious country steeped in traditions. It gives access to readers to understand the nuances of Omani culture which go beyond the struggles of tradition and modernity.
But Omani literature is not just being translated into western languages. The 2023 translation of Omani folktales into Malayalam, 'Omanile Nadodikathakal' is a continuation of attempts by Indian writers and researchers to bring Omani literature to an Indian reading public. The translation shares the rich folkloric tradition of Oman, with its legends and oral stories framed in morality, in a language that is closely associated with Oman in terms of historical cultural ties.
The increasing interest of international readership in Omani literature is a sign that the rich body of work in Oman is reaching a global audience. There is a lot of potential for further translations as there is clearly a reading public which is curious about the intellectual and creative output of writers from this part of the world.
Whether writing in English or Arabic, Omani writing has gained an international readership. The range of themes, the experiments in style and the exploration of its complex history make Omani literature a rich source of imaginative creativity. Wider dissemination of these works across international platforms will provide a larger audience and greater awareness of this untapped literary treasure.
