At 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 23, Cairo will shimmer with the cultural spirit of India and the music of its letters, as Darna Museum, founded by artist, critic, and novelist Abdel Razek Okasha, hosts the inaugural session of the Afro-Asian Literary Forum. This unique cultural evening brings together writers and translators from Egypt and India in an exceptional intellectual gathering on the banks of the Nile—a celebration of literature that transcends borders.

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, poet, writer, and Editor-in-Chief of The Silk Road Today, Secretary General of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ), and coordinator of the forum, announced that the evening will begin with a scholarly session dedicated to the theme of Arabic-Malayalam literary translation.

This academic panel will feature three distinguished Assistant Professors and Research Supervisors from the Department of Arabic, Farook College, University of Calicut, Kerala:

• Dr. Abbas K. P., presenting his paper “Challenges in Translating Poetry”, will discuss the aesthetic and stylistic complexities involved in transferring poetic beauty across languages.

• Dr. Abdul Jaleel M., in his study “Translatability of Culture in Literary Translation – Arabic-Indian Texts as a Model”, will examine the cultural intricacies and transformations inherent in literary translation.

• Dr. Muhammed Abid U. P., through his paper “Literary Translation from Arabic to Malayalam: An Overview”, will offer a comprehensive historical account of this rich linguistic exchange, addressing key achievements and ongoing challenges.

• Dr. Sabeena K. will be honored for translating the poetry collection "The Memory of Silence" into Malayalam, marking a significant milestone in cultural and poetic dialogue.

• Abdel Razek Okasha will be recognized for establishing Darna Museum and his role in building lasting cultural bridges across the world.

The second session of the evening will celebrate the official launch of the Malayalam translation of "Memory of Silence", a selected poetry collection by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, translated by academic Dr. Sabeena K. This marks Aboul-Yazid’s second book to be published in Malayalam, following the earlier translation of his novel "Back Garden", rendered into Malayalam by Dr. Abdul Majeed and Dr. Mansoor Ameen, faculty members at the University of Calicut and MES College, Mampad, respectively.

Malayalam, spoken by over 40 million people globally—primarily in Kerala, the Lakshadweep Islands, and among diaspora communities in the Gulf, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and the United States—has proven to be a vibrant medium for Arabic literature.

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid has visited Kerala several times, attending the launch of his translated works and participating in the defense of the PhD dissertation "The Poetics of Narrative in the Novels of Ashraf Aboul-Yazid", authored by Dr. Sabeena K. and supervised by Prof. Muhiyuddin Kuti A. P., former Head of the Arabic Department, University of Calicut. A heartfelt message from Dr. Sabeena K. will be delivered on her behalf by her husband, Dr. Abbas K. P., in a touching gesture that highlights the personal and academic bonds behind this cultural exchange.

"Memory of Silence" is published by Dar Al-Nasher, represented by its founder, poet Magdy Aboul-Kheir, Egypt, as part of the Silk Road Creativity Series, which has also published The Poetics of Narrative in the Novels of Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, along with global literary projects such as eight short Korean novels, a poetry collection by Hemant Divate, and the multi-volume Silk Road Anthology Series including:Asia Sings, Mediterranean Waves, Ancient Egyptians, Modern Poets, Arabian Nights, World Poems and Nano Poems for Africa

This body of work features contributions from over 150 writers representing more than 50 countries, reinforcing the series' global scope and literary richness.

In recognition of local excellence, Abdel Razek Okasha also announced that Darna Museum will honor three outstanding Egyptian literary and intellectual figures during the forum:

• Prof. Anwar Moghith, former President of the National Center for Translation, for his monumental contributions to the field of translation.

• Safaa El Beily, celebrated playwright and critic, for her profound influence on the Egyptian and Arab literary scenes.

• Omar Hazein, recently elected Vice President of the Cairo Atelier, for his distinguished literary and cultural achievements.

Under the dynamic leadership of Abdel Razek Okasha, Darna Museum continues to serve as a thriving cultural hub—where civilizations meet, ideas flourish, and hearts unite in the spirit of art, literature, and shared humanity.