Amman: The first International Conference on Contemporary Arab Diaspora Literature will kick off tomorrow, Saturday, in Amman, bringing together a wide range of scholars and writers from around the world for a two-day academic gathering.
According to Jordan News Agency, Yousef Abu Amerieh, professor at the University of Jordan and head of the Contemporary Arab Diaspora Literature Studies Group, stated that the event represents a significant scholarly achievement not only for Jordan but for the Arab world. It is the first Arab conference with an international, specialized focus on this nuanced literary field.
Abu Amerieh, speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), elaborated that the conference is organized by the research group in cooperation with the British Council for Levant Studies. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Council’s headquarters on Al-Baouniyeh Street in Jabal Al-Luweibdeh, featuring distinguished researchers and writers from the Arab region and abroad.
He mentioned that over 50 research papers will be presented by participants from 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, Egypt, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Palestine, and Jordan.
Abu Amerieh emphasized that this extensive international involvement highlights the conference’s significance and its role in reshaping the future of literary and cultural studies related to diaspora literature. This is particularly relevant amid significant transformations in language, vision, and human experience within the field.
The academic papers will address topics such as cultural identity, intercultural exchange, and the role of language and translation in idea transmission across nations. They will also explore technology’s impact on modern literary genres and revisit the temporal and spatial portrayals of diaspora in works by Arab-origin novelists, poets, and playwrights writing in global languages.
The conference will also focus on the works of notable writers of Arab descent living in the West, including Fadia Faqir, Diana Abu-Jaber, Isabella Hammad, Hisham Matar, and others who have contributed to the literary scene in non-Arabic languages.
Abu Amerieh disclosed that a central objective of the conference is to establish a new theoretical framework for understanding texts written in global languages by authors of Arab origin. He stressed that this field “remains in an early stage of critical formation and requires deeper methodological approaches.”
He added that hosting the conference in Amman highlights Jordan’s cultural and academic role in promoting dialogue among nations and strengthens its position as a leading research and cultural hub in the region.
Those interested can view session details, schedules, and research abstracts on the research group’s website dedicated to diaspora literature.