Sarajevo Poetry Days () is an international

literary festival A literary festival, also known as a book festival or writers' festival, is a regular gathering of writers and readers, typically on an annual basis in a particular city. A literary festival usually features a variety of presentations and readings ...

held annually in

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

. It was established in 1962 by Bosnian poet and academic,

Izet Sarajlić Izet Sarajlić (16 March 1930 in Doboj – 2 May 2002 in Sarajevo) was a Bosnian historian of philosophy, essayist, translator and poet. Sarajlić was Bosnia and Herzegovina's best-known poet after World War II, and the former Yugoslavia's most wi ...

, who was then-chairman of the Association of Bosnian Writers. The festival is the oldest living literary festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History and Purpose

The festival was founded with the aim of preserving and enhancing the literary-aesthetic and literary-ethical standards of the written word in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War (1992–1995), the festival continued to be held.

Program and Activities

Sarajevo Poetry Days features a diverse program that includes poetry readings, literary discussions, writing workshops, exhibitions, and book promotions. Events are hosted in various cultural venues across Sarajevo, such as the Museum of Literature and Performing Arts. The festival also extends to other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Mostar, Tuzla, Goražde, and Kakanj. A central feature of the festival is the awarding of the annual "Bosnian Stećak" literary prize, given for outstanding contributions to poetry. Past recipients have included renowned international poets such as

Mahmoud Darwish Mahmoud Darwish (; 13 March 1941 – 9 August 2008) was a Palestinians, Palestinian poet and author who was regarded as Palestine's national poet. In 1988 Darwish wrote the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, which was the formal declarat ...

, Charles Simic, and Hussein Habasch.

International Participation

Over the decades, Sarajevo Poetry Days has hosted writers and poets from a wide range of countries, including Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Iran, and the United States. Among the international guests have been

Ilma Rakusa Ilma Rakusa (born 2 January 1946) is a Swiss writer and translator. She translates French, Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Hungarian into German. Biography Ilma Rakusa was born in 1946 in Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia to a Slovenian father and a Hungar ...

, Luis J. Rodriguez, and numerous poets from the Versopolis European poetry platform.

Organization

The festival is organized by the

Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (, Друштво писаца Босне и Херцеговине) is a professional organisation of poets, essayists, novelists, and other writers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ''Društvo pis ...

, the country’s oldest professional literary organization, which was founded in 1945.

References

External links

Official Website
Tourist attractions in Sarajevo Poetry festivals in Europe Festivals in Sarajevo Festivals in Yugoslavia Annual events in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1962 establishments in Yugoslavia Culture in Sarajevo {{Poetry-stub