Latest news with #Kitab
Sharjah 24
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
"Kitab" Observes Violence in Latin American Novels
Mexican novelist Jorge Bowlby, whose image graces the cover of the issue, is one of the most influential writers in contemporary Spanish-language literature, basing his literary project on themes of history, politics, violence, and war. Issue 81 of the magazine, published by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), includes topics on writing, publishing, and reading, including interviews with American translator of Arabic literature William Maynard Hutchins, Moroccan thinker Said Nachid, and Spanish traveler and writer Jordi Esteva, author of Socotra: the land of geniuses. Books bring people together His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA and Editor-in-Chief of Kitab magazine, wrote the editorial for the July issue, titled "Sharjah's Message in the Brazilian Capital." The editorial read: "Books bring people together from different countries, nationalities, and cultures. This is the message of Sharjah, the World Book Capital for 2019, to its Brazilian counterpart, Rio de Janeiro, which UNESCO has crowned as the World Book Capital for 2025." Sharjah's cultural and civilizational renaissance project Al Ameri added that the 22nd Rio International Book Biennale, the largest book fair in Latin America, was a meeting place for the two cultural capitals, through a programme organised by SBA to introduce the fair's audience and participants from around the world to Sharjah's cultural and civilizational renaissance project, led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who has sponsored it for five decades." Ahmed Al Ameri added that "Sharjah had a remarkable presence at the International Book Fair in the Brazilian capital, under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, the architect of Sharjah's World Book Capital title." Sharjah.. a cultural hub Al Ameri explained that the SBA organised numerous events during the fair, from June 13 to 22, featuring Emirati authors and writers, and provided visitors to the SBA's pavilion with Emirati books translated into Portuguese. He emphasised the importance of Sharjah's participation in the fair "to convey the voice of Arab culture, enhance joint cooperation, and promote Sharjah's rich cultural heritage." The new issue of the magazine includes reviews of books published in Arabic, Spanish, English, Dutch, and French, as well as news of new releases and articles on authors and writers from Iraq, France, the United States, the Congo, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, the Netherlands, Jordan, the UAE, Mexico, and Spain. Al Ameri wrote an article titled "The Power of Culture and the Culture of Power," in which he addressed manifestations of injustice and resistance to it. He stated, "In times of adversity, the role of culture in the lives of nations becomes more prominent, as it is primarily a stronghold and the profound meaning of identity and existence. Consciousness, which is a qualitative product of culture, is the deciding factor." He concluded his article by saying, "Finally and always, those who embrace the power of culture build bridges, and those who embrace the culture of power erect walls."
The Star
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
RM400 increase in allowance for Penang Islamic kindergarten teachers
GEORGE TOWN: The allowance for Penang Islamic kindergarten (Tadis) teachers has been increased by RM400 per month to RM1,400, while kindergarten assistants will now get RM1,200 monthly, a raise of RM200. Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who is also Penang Islamic Religious Council president, said the increase would benefit 40 teachers and 21 assistants. There are currently 874 students enrolled in Tadis statewide. "This increase is also one of the results of the rebranding of Tadis to Tadika Islam Mutiara Madani (TIMM), " he said, adding that the council aimed to set up 30 TIMMs this year. He expressed the council's commitment to empowering Islamic kindergartens in Penang by approving the rebranding. He said in a Facebook statement on Sunday (June 15) that the kindergartens were established in 1998, and the state has allocated RM10.74mil for their operations over a five-year period until 2029. He said Tadis teachers could also apply to continue their diploma studies for free at the Penang International Islamic Technology College (Kitab). The council offers five places per semester for teachers to pursue diploma studies in Islam for free at Kitab, he added. – Bernama
CairoScene
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Tageel Makes a Comeback With ‘Sorry 4 the Weight'
Tageel Makes a Comeback With 'Sorry 4 the Weight' In 2024, fresh off his well-received debut album 'Kitab', Sudanese rapper Tageel surprised fans and the Sudanese rap scene alike by announcing his decision to step back from music. It was an unexpected move, especially given the impact of 'Kitab', a project that established him not as a commercial heavyweight but as a conceptual artist with a honed vocal delivery, sharp lyricism and strong storytelling skills. The two-disc album resonated with rap fans, earning Tageel a level of recognition that cemented his place in both the Sudanese and regional rap scenes. However, his sudden exit - coupled with his masked identity - only deepened the intrigue surrounding him, making his return all the more anticipated. Now, Tageel is back with a new mini-album bearing a weighty title: 'Sorry 4 The Weight'. Here, he veers away from the sound he introduced on 'Kitab', embracing a trap-rage fusion while tackling introspective themes. He reflects on his unexpected hiatus, shares his perspective on the music industry, and asserts his presence - his 'weight.' Powered by Hamadaboi's production, the instrumentals are short, bass-heavy, and rage-focused, flirting with garage and drum & bass elements. This sonic backdrop allows Tageel to deliver an understated yet razor-sharp vocal performance, with ad-libs playing a significant role in shaping the overall sound of the EP. Spanning just nine minutes across five tracks, the project flows naturally, with each song bleeding naturally into the next. The coherence of the production enhances this effect, creating an immersive listening experience. Tageel mirrors this consistency in his delivery - there are no dramatic shifts in tone or direction. Instead, he adopts a restrained approach, allowing the production to shine equally alongside his verses. 'زول جديد برو ماكس' ('New guy, pro max'), he declares on the opener 'Pro Max', signaling a subtle reinvention. As he navigates the fast-paced instrumental, his bars feel scattered yet fluid, serving more as rhythmic inserts than traditionally structured verses - a defining characteristic of the rage sound. 'Tany Tany Tany' picks up where the opener leaves off, maintaining a similar intensity. Here, Tageel's bars land with weight, wit and precision. He gets introspective without becoming overly dramatic, reflecting on his hiatus, the butterfly effect and the inner workings of the music industry. His lines are sharp, carefully crafted, and effortlessly delivered. 'Tgl Interlude' stands out as one of the most compelling interludes in recent memory, disrupting the flow of the first two tracks while setting up a seamless transition into 'Ba3aty'. On this track, Hamadaboi delivers some of his best production on the EP, layering looping synths over a driving bassline. This time, the instrumental recedes slightly, allowing Tageel's voice to take centre stage. His flow is aggressive and commanding, making 'Ba3aty' the most impactful cut on the record. Tageel's return adds weight to the growing influence of the Sudanese rap scene, a movement that has been thriving since the start of this decade. While the EP taps into current hip-hop trends, it doesn't feel like a mere attempt to follow them. Instead, Tageel brings his own character to the sound, with production that complements his execution rather than dictating it.
CairoScene
27-01-2025
- CairoScene
New Library App ‘Kitab' Provides Free Access to Over 2,000 Books
The app features user-friendly tools such as offline reading, personalised libraries and advanced search functionality. Jan 27, 2025 The Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has launched the 'Kitab' app, a digital library offering access to over 2,000 free books by more than 1,000 authors across 20 fields, including literature, history and science. Unveiled during the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, the app aims to make knowledge accessible to everyone, featuring user-friendly tools like offline reading, personalised libraries, and advanced search functions. Future updates will introduce text-to-speech capabilities, the ability to purchase books directly through the app, audiobooks and an integrated digital music library. Additionally, artificial intelligence will be employed to translate more books, enhancing access for researchers in Egypt and across the Arab world.
