Jazan Literary Club
The Jazan Literary Club is one of the cultural literary institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It works to promote culture and literature by supporting, attracting, and encouraging literary talents in Jazan Province. The club operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture.
Establishment of Jazan Literary Club
The Jazan Literary Club was established on June 12, 1975, when the founding members held their first meeting at the Social Service Center in Al-Mutalla’. The meeting was convened by researcher and historian Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al-Aqeeli and poet and writer Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Sanousi, with the participation of thirteen other members.
The club seeks to promote literary and cultural awareness, support intellectuals and writers, and nurture talents and their creators. It also serves the literary field through publishing and organizing lectures, seminars, and evenings featuring prominent cultural and literary figures, while opening broad horizons for those interested in literary and intellectual fields.
The club was established based on a request submitted by the two writers, Mohammed Al-Aqeeli and Mohammed Al-Sanousi. The first meeting of the club was held in mid-1975, attended by the founding members, during which the club’s first board of directors was formed. Al-Aqeeli became the first president in the club’s history, with Al-Sanousi serving as his deputy.
Administration of the Jazan Literary Club
The first term of the Jazan Literary Club’s board of directors lasted until 1980, after which some members resigned and were replaced by others. That same year, a new board was formed, headed by Mohammed Al-Sanousi, who passed away during the same term in 1987. His deputy, Mohammed Zari Aqil, passed away the following year in 1988. The board continued to manage the club’s affairs until 1992, when a decision was issued appointing Hijab Al-Hazmi as president of the club.
In 2006, the boards of literary clubs were restructured, including the Jazan Literary Club. Hassan Bin Hijab Al-Hazmi became president of the club’s board of directors, with Ahmed Al-Harbi serving as his deputy.
The board of directors of the Jazan Literary Club underwent several changes before the formation of the General Assembly for the new board elections in 2011. The election resulted in the victory of three women and seven men. Mohammed Ibrahim Yaqoub became president, with Hassan Al Khairat as his deputy. The elected women were Najat Khairi, Shaqra Madkhali, and Huda Al-Khuwairi.
Creative works of the Jazan Literary Club
The literary and cultural activities of the Jazan Literary Club began in 1976. By 2023, the club had produced 360 publications, spanning poetry, novels, short stories, literary and critical studies, and other genres by Saudi and Arab writers and poets. The club's activities were notable for moving across different governorates of the Jazan Province, such as Sabya, Farasan, and Ad-Darb. It also launched a series of university theses, which exceeded ten in number, in addition to publishing its periodical magazine Marafi, launched in 1999, which discusses issues on the cultural scene. The club also issued a bulletin titled Aswat, offering a platform for publishing creative literary work.
The club’s theater is known for its vibrant public events, featuring participation by poets, writers, narrators, researchers, and critics from both Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. It also organizes specialized festivals that attract contemporary poets, writers, and thinkers, as well as a weekly Monday Salon (Ithnainiyyah) that explores various literary topics. The club’s art hall hosts exhibitions that support emerging talents in photography and visual arts. Additionally, the club holds poetry evenings, cultural gatherings, literary forums, lectures, and seminars, publishes books, participates in international book fairs, and conducts workshops and training courses.
Sources
Dictionary of Literature and Writers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), 2013.