The Africa Institute hosts an Arabic-language book talk and launch for Jamal Mohamed Ahmed’s Complete Works – Volume 1, spotlighting a landmark edition of writings by a towering twentieth-century Sudanese intellectual. According to information compiled by Few.ae editor, the session runs as a focused, one-hour conversation designed for readers, scholars, editors, and translators interested in North and Northeast African letters, statecraft, and cultural history. Expect a discussion that moves from editorial choices and archival sourcing to the texts’ contemporary resonance for Arabic readers, followed by an audience Q&A and a brief signing moment, subject to schedule.
When and where the session takes place
The event is scheduled for Monday, 10 November 2025, from 20:30 to 21:30, at Forum 1 within the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). Forum 1 is one of the fair’s programmed talk spaces, set up for seated, dialogue-style sessions with stage lighting and conference-grade audio, making it well suited to literary conversations and launches. While SIBF is held in Sharjah, the venue sits within easy reach of Dubai by car—many Dubai-based guests routinely attend evening talks across fair week.
The venue and on-site experience
SIBF is staged at Expo Centre Sharjah, the emirate’s purpose-built exhibition campus close to Al Khan Lagoon. The complex offers climate-controlled halls, clear wayfinding from the main entrances to forum stages, staffed information counters, cafés and prayer rooms, and ample restrooms distributed across concourses. Forum 1’s configuration typically includes tiered or raked seating with direct sightlines to the speakers, a lectern or coffee-table setup for moderated dialogue, and large display screens for book covers, portraits, or archival illustrations. Sound is optimized for spoken-word clarity, and ushers guide late arrivals to side aisles to avoid interrupting the live discussion.
Getting there from Dubai or Sharjah
From Dubai, the fastest approach is by car or taxi via the E11 (Sheikh Zayed/Al Ittihad corridor) toward Al Taawun/Al Khan, then following Expo Centre signage; typical off-peak travel times from Downtown Dubai range from 25 to 40 minutes. If you prefer public transport, intercity buses from Dubai terminate at Sharjah’s Al Jubail Bus Station; from there, a short taxi ride brings you to the venue. Within Sharjah city, taxis and ride-hailing services are the most predictable way to make an evening session on time. Drivers will find multiple surface and structured parking areas around the Expo Centre precinct; allow a few extra minutes at peak evening times to clear the inbound junctions around Al Taawun Street.
What to expect inside the hour
Evening literary talks at SIBF follow a crisp rhythm: a welcome and speaker introductions, a 30–35-minute dialogue on the book’s themes and the editorial journey behind Volume 1, then audience questions gathered by roving mics. For a collection of complete works, typical talking points include how texts were selected, how variant editions and manuscripts were reconciled, and what scholarly apparatus—introductions, footnotes, glossaries—was added to support readers. Because this is a launch framed by The Africa Institute’s programming, you can also expect context on the Institute’s broader publishing agenda and how Jamal Mohamed Ahmed’s legacy converses with current debates on identity, language, and postcolonial governance in the region.
Who should attend and why it matters
This session is tailored for Arabic readers, students of literature and history, editors, translators, and anyone curious about the long arc of intellectual life in Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa. Jamal Mohamed Ahmed’s work bridges diplomacy, cultural criticism, and reflective prose; hearing it presented in a curated Arabic talk helps situate the texts for today’s audiences. For researchers, launches like this are also practical networking windows—an opportunity to meet editors, propose translation pathways, or discuss access to archival material referenced in the volume.
Practical timing and comfort tips
Arrive 15–20 minutes early for smoother entry and to find a preferred seat without rush. The fairgrounds are fully air-conditioned, but a light layer can be useful if you are sensitive to cooler indoor temperatures after a warm evening outside. If you plan to buy the book on site, bring a card and a photo ID; the fair’s booksellers and pop-up registers are typically cashless in the evenings. Post-event, cafés on the concourse usually remain open for a short window—ideal for a quick debrief with friends before driving back to Dubai.
Weather and what to wear
Early November evenings in the UAE are warm and dry. Comfortable smart-casual clothing works well for a short outdoor transfer from car drop-off to the hall, with a light layer for the cool, climate-controlled forum space. Flat or low-heel shoes make the walk across the exhibition concourse easier, especially at peak footfall times.
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