China Honors Emirati Writer Adel Khozam with the Great Poetry Movement Medal

Adel Khozam as laureate

On November 30, 2023, a significant event took place in Beijing, China, where renowned Emirati poet Adel Khozam was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal by the Great Poetry Movement. Known as one of the most prominent literary voices in the UAE and the Gulf region, Khozam was recognized for his extraordinary contributions to global poetry, particularly for his epic humanistic work, “Manseerah”. This momentous ceremony was held at the historical Imperial Examination Paintings Museum in the heart of Beijing, a symbol of China's deep literary traditions. The event was widely covered by over 15 media outlets, both in China and the Arab world.

The award was presented to Khazem in recognition of his monumental efforts in launching “Manseerah”, an epic poem co-authored by 86 poets from 50 countries. This project, the first of its kind in the global poetry community, explores universal themes of war, disaster, nuclear threats, climate change, human anxiety, dreams, and love. The poem follows humanity’s journey from chaos to the shared dream of global unity.

A collaborative project between Khozam and the famous Chinese poet, Cao Chui, “Manseerah” will be translated into Chinese in the coming year. The event was organized by the Global Poetry Movement in China and the BRICS Writers’ Association, hosted by the Great Poetry Movement and the Chinese Poetry Film Festival, and supported by the Imperial Examination Paintings Museum and the Kanglang Yayan Poetry Association. It was attended by numerous poets, academics, and students, including Huang Bijin, editor-in-chief of “Silk Road Horizons,” and professors from Nanjing University and Peking University.

Khazem delivered the Arabic version of “Manseerah” to the Chinese poets, and Cao Chui, the founder of the Great Poetry Movement, read the translated final section of the epic in Chinese. The evening sparked deep discussions on the future of poetry, the relevance of modernity, and the importance of collaboration across cultures in creating epic works that transcend borders.

A New Milestone in Global Poetry

The award ceremony also featured speeches by Cao Chui and Qiao Damo, founder of the Beijing Poetry School. Zhao emphasized the universal nature of “Manseerah”, stating that it represents a global cooperation rather than being tied to any particular nation, drawing on themes of shared humanity and collective unity. “Mansira,” as Cao explained, differs from traditional epics that focus on specific peoples. Instead, it aims to explore the collective human experience across time and space.

Qiao Damo, in his speech “The Call of the Epic,” praised Khozam’s work as an unprecedented literary achievement, noting that it exemplifies the postmodern poetic movement that the Beijing Poetry School has championed since its founding in 2016. The collaborative and inclusive nature of “Manseerah” marks it as a key innovation in modern literature.

The event concluded with a joint reading of the final part of “Manseerah” by Khozam and Cao Chui, and several Chinese poets also recited their works in both Arabic and Chinese. The evening was widely acclaimed, with attendees considering “Manseerah” a landmark achievement in world poetry, symbolizing a new era of literary cooperation and unity.

Great Poetry Movement Medal

Each year, the Great Poetry Movement awards the Gold Medal to international poets who have made significant contributions to the fields of epic and great poetry. In 2023, the award was presented to Turkish poets Nordoran Doman and Haluk Sacin, and Kazakh poet Ulogbek Yesdult. For 2024, the medal was awarded to Colombian poet Fernando Rendon, American poet George Wallace, and Arab poet Adel Khozam.

This recognition is a testament to Khozam’s significant role in shaping global poetry and his commitment to promoting peace and unity through the universal language of poetry.

You can read more about the event in Arabic and Chinese here: Link to article.