New literary event for Muslim pupils

GREATER Manchester will host the UK’s first ever literary festival for Muslim children, featuring well-known Manga artists and Greek mythology experts.

Sibgha: Literary Festival for Young Muslim Minds will take place at the European Islamic Centre in Oldham this Saturday and will feature a day of creative writing workshops, storytelling readings and sessions with authors and artists from diverse backgrounds.

Aimed at children aged eight and above, the Sibgha festival is being held to promote diversity, inclusivity, and showcase how the power of literature can help to inspire and empower underrepresented young people.

Japanese Manga artist Dr Naoki Yamamoto will headline the festival, while Palestinian novelist Dr Selma Dabbagh and author and Refugee Advocacy worker Hiba Noor Khan will also be appearing at the event.

The festival, which will be inaugurated by Zara Mohammed, the first-ever female head of the Muslim Council of Britain, will also feature percussion sessions as well as appearances from Dr Marchella Ward, lecturer in Classical Studies at Open University and an expert in Greek and Latin literature, as well as children’s author Burhana Islam, who has written books including Mayhem Mission, The Dastardly Duo and The Big Breakout. Organised by British Muslim organisation StriveUK, the day-long event is expected to be attended by more than 100 children.

Dr. Sherna Salim, Director of Sibghah, said: “We realised there was a strong need for a literary festival that celebrated community building and activism to improve the lot of the underprivileged. Such events build foundations, enrich cultures, connect us to a very proud heritage of knowledge, and future-proof our aspirations to raise conscientious leaders of tomorrow.”