Qatar-MENASA Year of Culture 2022 kicks off with music, film and cuisine

H E Helwah Rashid Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar, officially inaugurated the Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture at an event held in the courtyard of the Qatar Fire Station on Thursday evening.

Al-Khater invited leaders and dignitaries to enjoy music, film, and cuisine from various Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian countries.

The celebration continued on Friday as the public was invited to attend Doha Film Institute film screenings and musical performances by Qatari composer, singer, and songwriter Dana Al Fardan.

State of Qatar inaugurated Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture at an exceptional opening ceremony held in the courtyard of the Fire Station. #QNA pic.twitter.com/LaxiQ1ND2l

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) March 5, 2022

Taking place over two days, the opening event marked the start of a year of special exhibitions, film, music, and food festivals between Qatar and other countries in the MENASA region.

H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Museums, launched Qatar's Year of Culture initiative in August 2012.

Qatar partnered with another country this year for a series of cultural exchanges aimed at promoting Qatar globally.

Towards welcoming the globe for the Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup, in anticipation of celebrating the initiative's tenth anniversary, Qatar is partnering with nations from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Egypt, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

A welcoming address was delivered by Al-Khater to a crowd of guests at the opening ceremony, saying: "This year, our people will have the opportunity to strengthen their bonds in a deeper and more meaningful way, through a series of exhibitions, performances, festivals, and cultural exchanges."

"I believe the Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture will showcase the culmination of a long and significant history of initiatives created by the Qatari people while acting as the cornerstone for a new and important phase in MENASA’s cultural understanding,” she added.

Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, Director of Cultural Diplomacy, Qatar Museums said, “This wonderful evening is just a sampling of what is to come in the months ahead, as everyone opens their eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to one another through a host of specially curated exhibitions, performances, festivals, and cultural exchanges."

"Presented in-person in Qatar and virtually throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia regions, the events of this extraordinary Year of Culture celebrate the heritage and innovations that we share throughout the MENASA region,” she added.

Qatar's renowned composer, singer, and songwriter Dana Al Fardan curated the opening ceremony music. Alongside her compositions, she also brought to the guests the music of Tunisian star Mehdi Ayiachi, the world-renowned MAqam Ensemble, master percussionist George Oro, and Qatar Music Academy students in the Arab Percussion Ensemble.

As part of the evening's entertainment, Qatari and MENASA short films were screened with support from the Doha Film Institute. Sami Tamimi, an award-winning Palestinian chef, began the evening with an appetizer, followed by foods from the MENASA region as a whole.

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Cover image credit: QNA

Inline image credit & Source: Peninsula