Media Adviser to Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding Dr. Hanan Al Fayyad (second right) during the symposium in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Zanzibar: The media team of Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding is organising a special tour to introduce the award in Zanzibar during the period from 26 to 29 June, and to learn about the reality of translation from Swahili to Arabic and vis versa , on the occasion of the selection of the Swahili language within the languages of the “Achievement Category” for this year.
Regarding this tour, Media Adviser to Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding Dr. Hanan Al Fayyad, told QNA that the media team met with the Vice-Chancellor of Abdulrahman Al Sumait Private University Professor Msafiri Mshewa, and various university officials who are concerned with Arabic language. She made an orientation about the award, its conditions, fields, and the importance of including the Swahili language among the nominations for this season.
She added that the media delegation visited various institutions concerned with translation, including the Direct Aid - charitable association, a publishing house concerned with publishing translations of religious and Arabic books into Swahili, in addition to visiting the Swahili Language Council and meeting many intellectuals who are concerned with the translation movement from Swahili to Arabic and Vis versa.
The media team participated on Monday in a scientific symposium held at the State University of Zanzibar under the title, “The Reality and Prospects of Translation between Arabic and Swahili,” during which the Vice-Chancellor of The State University of Zanzibar Prof. Mohammed Makame, called on university youth to benefit from the incentives the award offers.
Prof. Makame noted the importance of the award’s role in strengthening the bonds of relations between Zanzibar and the Arab nation on the one hand, and the relationship between the Arab language and Swahili on the other.
He pointed out to the historical ties between Zanzibar and the Arab nation, thanks to which the Swahili language was born, of which the authentic Arab component represents 70 percent, calling on university professors to participate collectively and institutionally in the achievement category presented by the award.
For his part, Translator Prof. Issa Alhaj Zaidi in his paper on his personal experience in translation said that Zanzibar is a residence of East African languages and Swahili in particular.
He pointed out that Zanzibari’s relationship with the Arabic language begins from birth, as they hear the call for prayer, then grow up in Quran recitation schools and learn Arabic by listening and reading, and that 96 percent of Zanzibaris know Arabic because they are Muslims and practice religious rituals, and they learn Arabic in high school schools.
