The UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), supported by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, delivered two presentations at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 17 and 19, 2025.

The Chair’s first presentation outlined its strategic objectives, focus languages, and its eight themes, including the themes of this year: Translating Cultures in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Translating Cultures and Intangible Heritage. This presentation also highlighted Tracing the Ether: Contemporary Poetry from Saudi Arabia, a forthcoming bilingual anthology edited and introduced by UNESCO Chair Moneera Al-Ghadeer. The anthology is scheduled for publication in November 2025 by Syracuse University Press. Addressing the nature and significance of the anthology, the Chair underscored that it embodies “more than just linguistic transfer; it is a staging of cultural exchange.”

The second event hosted by the UNESCO Chair, titled “Translating Badr bin Abdulmohsin’s Lyrics,” introduced the Saudi poet and described the nuances and challenges inherent in translating such culturally rich, emotionally suggestive material. In this presentation, Professor Moneera Al-Ghadeer cited her translation of Al-Badr’s poem “A Letter from a Bedouin”, and then discussed the profound influence of the renowned poet on modern poetry and the new generation of millennial poets. She also referred to Muhammed Al-Turki’s poem “Now You Are All of Us,” which was dedicated to Badr bin Abdulmohsin as a poetic tribute to his enduring legacy. Dr. Al-Ghadeer noted that Al-Turki “shows that there are no words to mourn Al-Bader except to recall, echo, and weave in titles of his unforgettable lyrics and memorable phrases.”

The UNESCO Chair’s participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest literary trade fair, provided an excellent platform from which to publicize the Chair’s objectives, celebrate previous and ongoing work, and expand the Chair’s collaboration with scholars and institutions around the world.