Mahra University Launches First Cultural Forum for Mehri Language Day

On Sunday, Mahra University launched the events of the first Mahra Cultural Forum, coinciding with Mehri Language Day, which falls on the second of October each year.

In a statement, the university said that the Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training and University President, Dr. Anwar Mohammed Kalshat, and the Secretary-General of the local council in the governorate, Salem Abdullah Nimer, inaugurated the forum's events. The forum is organized by the Mehri Language Center for Studies and Research in partnership with the "Mahra ARTS" initiative, under the patronage of Mahra Governor Mohammed Ali Yasser and Minister of Culture and Tourism Mutee' Dammaj.

The statement added that the forum was attended by a number of officials, academics, researchers, and those interested in cultural and heritage affairs, along with students from the governorate's schools.

During the inauguration, Kalshat emphasized that the Mehri language represents an authentic heritage and a living memory for the people of the governorate, noting that its preservation requires the joint efforts of academic, cultural, and community institutions.

He explained that the forum provides a space for researchers, intellectuals, and creators to exchange ideas and highlight the cultural and heritage diversity that Mahra is rich in, stressing the importance of documenting the Mehri language, studying its vocabulary, oral literature, and folk heritage, and passing it on to future generations.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the local council affirmed the local authority's support for events that contribute to preserving the Mehri identity and heritage, praising the efforts of the Mehri Language Center in serving the language and heritage.

In turn, Dr. Saeed Al-Qumairi, Director of the Mehri Language Center for Studies and Research, said that the forum is part of the center's efforts to study and document the Mehri language and preserve the governorate's cultural heritage.

He pointed out that the forum brings together academics, researchers, intellectuals, and those interested in Mehri heritage, with the aim of exchanging knowledge and introducing the cultural and linguistic specificity of the governorate.

Following the inauguration, officials and attendees toured the heritage tent and viewed exhibits and collectibles reflecting aspects of the cultural, social, and linguistic heritage of Mahra governorate.

The events included cultural, heritage, and artistic performances and segments with the participation of students from the governorate's schools, celebrating Mehri Language Day and highlighting the new generation's connection to their language and cultural heritage.