On Sunday 26 May 2024, the activities of the second day of the Third Annual Open Book Fair, organised by the Syriac Library of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region for the period of 25 to 27 May of this year in Erbil Governorate’s Ankawa district, continued.
The second day of activities began with the book signing of “Shamsi” (My Sun) by writer Sava Saliba, which was presented to the audience by writer Nineb Lamassu. This was followed by a group of distinguished poetic readings that were delivered by poets from our people to the tunes of the oud. These were Barzan ‘Abd al-Ghani, Amir Paulus, Parvin Shimoun, and Nineb Lamassu.
Then, the Ornina Arts Academy band performed an artistic piece, followed by a dialogue session moderated by journalist and poet Valentina Haido, in which the head of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Dr. Muna Yaqo, the head of the Intermediary Forum for Culture and Moderation, His Eminence Sayyid Rahim Abu Ragheef, and civil society activist Dr. Adam Bedar participated. This focused on “Hate Speech and its Impact on Peaceful Coexistence.”
After the dialogue session, the Ornina Arts Academy band performed another artistical music segment, followed by a second dialogue session moderated by academician Silva Matti, and in which Lebanese-Assyrian entrepreneur and digital transformation strategist Jack Jendo, doctoral student Fanar Rufo, and academic Mikey Khorani participated. This focused on “Preserving the Syriac Heritage and Language in the Age of Artificial Intelligence… Challenges and Opportunities.”
The second day concluded its activities with a singing performance by the Ornina Arts Academy band.
It is worth noting that the Third Annual Open Book Fair was held from May 25 to 27, and its activities included dialogue sessions and various artistic and singing performances.
