ABU DHABI – After a tough and exciting poetical competition, the six best Arab poets made it to the final phase of the Arab world’s biggest Nabati poetry TV competition “Million’s Poet” last Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
Saudi poetess Hissa Hilal, known also as “Remia”, has made history by becoming the first poetess to go reach the finals since the poetry contest started.
The panel qualified Hissa by giving here the highest points on the live episode aired from Al Raha Beach Theater on Abu Dhabi TV last Wednesday.
Hissa delivered a 15-verse free poem in the first part of the episode during which she described her reaction to the public feedback on her harsh poem on Fatwas she delivered in the last episode.
Hissa’s brave step to touch such a controversial topic in the Muslim world drew mixed criticism as some branded her anti-Islamic while others supported her.
In the second part of the episode all poets had to improvise a short poem of six verses to match a poem by the competition’s first winner Mohammed Bin Futase Al Murri of Qatar.
According to Sultan Al Amimi member of the jury, poets are required to improvise the poem in weight, rhyme and subject without using the poet’s name, nor re-using any of his metaphors.
After delivering their powerful poems, the panel announced the results: Hissa gained 47 points out of 50, Kuwait’s Falah Al Moraqi was given 44 points, Saudi Mohammed Al Saeed f 44 points, Kuwait’s Nasser Al Ajami 42 points, Saudi Jaza Al Baqami 38 points, and Kuwait’s Sultan Al Asaimar was given 43 points.
Only five poets will reach the final phase next week as the public will vote the weakest poet out.
The final phase of the competition, which will kick off next week, is the toughest as they have to prove their poetical ability to deliver a main poem of no more than 12 verses and no less than 10 on a subject selected by the panel.
According to the panel, Hissa will deliver a poem on media, Fallah Al Moraqi will write on the Arabian Gulf, Mohammed Al Saeed will talk about the neighbor, Nasser Al Ajami will write on the armed forces, Jaza Al Baqmi will talk on the topic of woman and Sultan Al Asaimer will talk about terrorism and extremism.
In the second part of the episode poets have to improvise an eight-verse poem on one of Nabati’s classics poems by well-known poet Muqham Al Ssaqri. Poets should not use any rhymes from the original poem.
The reigning champion, Ziyd Bin Hjab Bin Naheeb, will have the opportunity to defend the title by competing with the five finalists or declare his willingness to hold last year’s title.
The show, sponsored and produced by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, presents 48 poets, carefully selected by a panel of experts on Nabati poetry (dialect poetry), from thousands of applicants after a six-week tour of the Arabian Gulf countries with contestants from all over the Arab world. The poets will battle it out, seeking to impress the jury and the audience with their poetic skills, in the hope of making it through to the grand final.
Contestants are judged using a mixture of jury votes, live audience votes via the in-theatre voting pods and SMS voting throughout the weeks. The Millions’ Poet who wins first place will receive an increased grand prize of 5 million AED ($1,362,000), second place will be awarded 4 million AED ($ 1,090,000), third place 3 million AED ($ 817,000), fourth place 2 million AED ($ 545,000) and fifth place 1 million AED ($ 272,000). The prize money for all contestants will total 22 million AED (more than $ 4 million).
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