Yemeni Media and Literary Creativity: A Gap that Needs a Bridge of Communication

Hebah Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

In the world of literature and creativity, media plays a vital role in shedding light on and drawing attention to Yemen’s diverse and rich literary heritage. It illuminates the path to literary masterpieces and highlights the voices of writers and poets who tell the stories of their nation in their own unique style. Through this media window, we discover multiple facets of Yemeni literature, from folk heritage to modern creations that breathe the spirit of the times, and we learn about the role of Yemeni media in highlighting literary works.

In the face of modern developments and the rapid changes in the media landscape, Yemeni literature appears to have been forgotten by the public eye and the media spotlight. The confinement of literature, which has deep roots and rich heritage, in a country that celebrates culture, and creativity raises questions about the role of media in paying attention to this neglected literary treasure.

Yemeni Literature: Fading in the Absence of Media

On the importance of the role of media for literary works, media professional Salman Al-Qabatli said: “Different media outlets play a prominent and influential role in the reality of literature in Yemen. They enhance literary activity, enable Yemeni writers to reach a wider audience, and help preserve, document, and transmit Yemeni literary heritage to future generations through the programs and content they provide.”

Dr. Muhammad Masa’ad, a writer and literary critic, said: “Literature is more illuminating of dark paths than stagnant media, as it is deeper and more capable of understanding. Literature is a form of media in its own right, but the tools it uses are what elevate it and connect it with its audience. Official media outlets are completely absent from their programs when it comes to Yemeni literature, as they are preoccupied with political and other issues. Social media has undoubtedly opened a wide door for writers, providing them with a wide platform from which to speak.”

Poet and writer Yahya Al-Hayti confirmed what was mentioned above, saying that the media has not fulfilled its duty towards Yemeni literature, and it is showcasing locally and regionally. There are no programs or literary discussions that delve into the depths of Yemeni literature, and there are no interviews or guest appearances for writers and poets on television channels to introduce this writer, that author, and that poet. This is to encourage and motivate writers, on the one hand, and to introduce people to Yemeni writers and spread their creative genius, on the other.

He emphasized the need for the media to focus on highlighting Yemeni literature and giving it attention as a tributary of Yemeni and Arab culture. Yemen is full of writers and poets in all branches of poetry and prose who have a presence in literary circles.

Poet Shawqi Nu’man, Head of Reesha Platform, pointed out that Yemeni media suffers from a lack of sufficient spotlighting of literary works and personalities, leading to a shortcoming and paralysis in the literary and cultural scene. He lamented the marginalization that many writers and authors face due to their affiliation with groups or parties and the need to strengthen efforts to establish professional and specialized institutions that work to enhance the cultural and literary role.

Regarding how media can enhance awareness of local and global literature among the public, Nu’man believes that through institutions concerned with literary and cultural affairs and supporting writers and publishing houses, media can enhance societal awareness of literature, as well as professional oversight in approving literary publications according to the standards accepted in local and global literature and promoting cultural and literary exchange between other countries, in addition to allocating financial returns to help writers and poets continue their intellectual and literary production.

There is an urgent need for literary and intellectual institutions to contribute to reviving the literary, artistic, and cultural reality, with the goal of enriching life in its beautiful literary and artistic forms.

Writers’ Efforts and Absent Cultural Support

Writer Fikria Shuhra says, “It’s true that many media professionals are creating programs and interviews that introduce writers and authors, but this commendable effort is still lacking in impact compared to what Arab media does outside Yemen.”

She explains, “For example, there are cultural channels that dedicate all their programs and events to culture, introducing literature and authors. Some newspapers and websites focus solely on literature, and there are cultural conferences and festivals held worldwide.”

She emphasizes that Yemeni writers mainly rely on themselves to market their work and that Yemeni authors have never witnessed a literary conference or cultural festival in Yemen due to the country’s current situation.

She adds, “There is no interest or support from the Ministry of Culture or government agencies. Writers depend on themselves to showcase Yemeni literature. Social media has offered them some opportunities. Yemeni writers are carving out a niche for themselves in the sculpture of Arab literature.”

Ibrahim Abu Talib, a professor of modern literature and criticism, says, “Modern media is a great blessing for those who know how to use it properly. Through it, we’ve learned about authors, poets, and artists we wouldn’t have known otherwise. It’s no longer limited to official entities or government and private channels. Every true artist now has their own channel through which they can reach the world, which has become one village.”

He points out that every artist can present themselves, their culture, and their literature appropriately if they want to convey a message and deliver outstanding content. It shouldn’t just be fleeting trends that disappear as quickly as they arise, like a flash of lightning that leaves nothing behind for people on Earth.

Sam Al-Bahairi, founder of “Shuddu Yemeni” platform and head of the “Miyun Literary Salon,” sees the efforts made by some media outlets and those interested in literature and culture in highlighting literary works and award-winning authors, but he believes they don’t meet the standards that match the greatness of the authors, their efforts, and their work. This is due to several reasons, most importantly the humanitarian crisis facing Yemeni society, which has led to a lack of attention to cultural and literary aspects.

Literary Platforms and a Difficult Reality

Authors, intellectuals, and lovers of literature and art haven’t remained silent in the face of Yemeni literature’s absence from media pages. They’ve risen again, raising the flag of culture and literature by establishing cultural and artistic platforms and magazines.

In this regard, Fathi Abu Al-Nasr, head of “Inziyahat” cultural website, says, “Our slogan is ‘We have a dream.’ With the political, social, and cultural changes in the country, we’ve prepared this website, despite all the challenges, as an independent social and cultural platform. It aims primarily to spread culture, literature, and free thought in Yemen and the Arab world.”

Regarding “Inziyahat” magazine, Abu Al-Nasr clarifies that it was launched in Sana’a as a purely cultural magazine in 2010. It published four issues that received great acclaim in the Yemeni and Arab cultural and literary circles, but it faltered due to the conflict.

He continues, “The Yemeni cultural community welcomed ‘Inziyahat’ because it was different in a difficult reality. There’s no website for the Ministry of Culture or even for the Yemeni Writers’ Union. So, Yemeni creators have the right to get their voices heard. That’s why we faced difficulties in achieving this right.”

There’s also a platform called “Reesha,” which is one of the most important cultural platforms on social media. In a short time, it managed to raise and discuss a variety of literary, artistic, and cultural issues. It’s also known for highlighting Yemeni artistic and musical styles and showcasing Yemeni literature. This made it accessible to a wide range of interested followers.

With its own efforts, “Reesha” managed to shed light on figures and celebrities in the world of art, literature, and culture, as well as raise many cultural and social issues that resonate with the public.

Regarding the literary opportunities that “Reesha” provides, the platform’s president, poet Shawqi Nu’man, told Voice of Hope, “Reesha was founded in December 2022. It was, and still is, the first media platform specializing in art and literature, aiming to promote the publication of writers’ works, coordinate with local and international publishing houses, and publish biographies of writers and artists.”

He added, “Since its founding, Reesha has held many events, seminars, and literary, cultural, and artistic evenings to celebrate writers and artists, keep up with everything related to the cultural scene, and document and archive some of Yemen’s local art and heritage.”

He also noted, “Since the founding of Reesha and long before that, when the idea came to mind and we started working on it, we aspire for “Reesha” to be an artistic institution in addition to being a media platform. It lacks many opportunities, including its lack of collaboration with other media platforms and the lack of funding to help us continue and push the Yemeni artistic and cultural scene to a global presence.”

“Reesha platform faces many challenges that hinder its progress and development. One of the most prominent of these challenges is the lack of a funding body to support it financially, making it difficult for the team to carry out major and comprehensive projects in the fields of documentation, publication, and distribution. The team also needs financial support to enable them to continue working with more effort, especially since most of the members have family commitments and responsibilities that hinder them from fully dedicating themselves to working on the platform. The platform also faces difficulty in obtaining approvals from artistic institutions to sign partnerships and memorandums of understanding for joint work in the fields of art, literature, and culture,” according to Nu’man.

From his side, Sam Al-Bahairi, founder of “Shuddu Yemeni” platform and head of “Miyun Literary Salon,” also joined us in this discussion, saying, “There are many opportunities that we offer through the platform, and we seek to provide them through “Shuddu Yemeni” platform and “Miyun Literary Salon.” These opportunities include publishing, connecting with writers, authors, and poets, and highlighting literary releases.”

He added, “Encouraging young literary talents to publish their work and supporting them in presenting it to the public. For example, the “Miyun Salon” page on Facebook serves as a platform for poets, allowing them to submit their contributions for publication. This creates an opportunity for readers to discover and connect with various writers, authors, and poets. We aim to shed light on Yemeni literature, preserve literary heritage, and pass it on to future generations.”

He pointed out that “Shuddu” faces challenges, including financial and technical support to continue and develop constantly, weak internet, and the need for training and qualification for the team in line with digital development.

Challenges and Proposals

Behind the absence of Yemeni media from thought and literature are many challenges. Media personality Salman Al-Qabatli mentioned several challenges facing the distribution of literature in Yemen through media outlets, including a shortage of financial and technical resources needed to cover literary activity optimally. Books and literary publications face challenges in distribution and reaching readers due to weak infrastructure.

From his side, Nu’man points to the lack of the necessary attention to cultural and literary content by media outlets, as media outlets often focus on political and security topics at the expense of cultural and literary content. Literature in Yemen faces challenges in reaching young readers who often turn to other sources for digital content.

To activate the role of media outlets in highlighting the role of literature in Yemen, it is necessary to pay attention to the programming map of these outlets, whether official or private, and focus on literary events. This is done by working to introduce the public to new literary works and Yemeni creators, which contributes to expanding the readers’ horizons and educating them, preserving Yemeni literary heritage, and passing it on to future generations, and working to strengthen national identity by focusing on Yemeni values and traditions reflected in literature.