Conferences and debates
Index / Activities / Conferences and debates / Arab oral literature and folk tales in Tunisia
Arab oral literature and folk tales in Tunisia
May 26, 20167:00 p.m.
MADRID
Casa Árabe Auditorium (at Calle Alcalá, 62)
7:00 p.m.
Free entry until the event’s capacity is reached.
In Spanish.
Casa Árabe has organized a conference on the many facets of oral literature in the Arab world.
- It is no exaggeration to state that oral literature is the most representative form of expression of a people’s imaginary and spirituality, and the Arab world stands out because of the many examples to be found there. The components of this cultural phenomenon are wide-ranging and great in number. They run from traditional sayings and stories to dances and include poetry and singing, enshrining customs, traditions, superstitions and much more.
- José Manuel Pedrosa, a scholar on this subject, will be giving an introduction to this phenomenon, as found in the Arab countries. Mohamed N. Abdelkefi will be talking about his experience with oral literature in Tunisia, and Héctor Urién will be illustrating the event with his narrations. The event will be presented and moderated by Karim Hauser, who is responsible for the Governance Area at Casa Árabe.
José Manuel Pedrosa is a professor of Literary Theory and Comparative Literature at the University of Alcalá. He is the author of many books and academic articles on oral literature, comparative literature and cultural anthropology. He has done work in the field on various continents, including Africa.
Mohamed Najib Abdelkefi is a journalist. He has contributed to many different media in Tunisia and Libya, and with Radio Exterior de España. As a writer, he attempts to build a bridge between his Arab culture of origin and his adopted culture, that of Spain. His last two books were: Cuentos populares tunecinos (Tunisian Folk Tales) and El jeque del arabismo español contemporáneo, Pedro Martínez Montávez (The Sheikh of Contemporary Spanish Arabism: Pedro Martínez Montávez) in Arabic.
Héctor Urién has combined his work as a scientist with that of a writer for the stage since 1997. His most original and inspiring project is related with The Arabian Nights, from which he has been telling tales every Tuesday night at the Taberna Alabanda in Madrid for over 100 nights. Héctor is a live short story narrator who comes into close contact with the audience.
