On Monday 3 March, Eton hosted its annual Morrissey Arabic Declamation Prize. As part of the prize, all boys who study Arabic were invited to learn and recite a passage from a collection of texts. The collection involves a vast array of famous Arabic literature, including works by poets such as Al-Mutanabbi and Elia Abu Madi.
This year, the adjudication was carried out by a panel of OE Arabists — Fitzroy Morrissey, Tim Carlton Jones, Nick McBurney, and Theo Hall — as well as Mr Adib Badri, Eton’s former Head of Arabic. A remarkable 19 boys participated in the competition, a testament to Arabic’s growing popularity among the boys. After hearing all the recitations, the judges finally decided on the three winners: Faris M in the open category with the The Dice Player by Mahmoud Darwish; Riley L in the intermediate category with the Fairouz song We used to meet; and Wolfie N in the beginners’ category with some lines I hate to write like people do by Nizar Qabbani.
However, the Morrissey Arabic Declamation Prize is just one of the many ways that boys can engage with the language during their time at the School. The primary way to get involved is by signing up for weekly lessons with Mr Shirwani or Madame Kalmoni (Eton’s Arabic Assistant). Here, boys can choose what element of the language they would like to specifically focus on—speaking, reading, writing, or grammar—while also receiving tailored instruction based on their ability and personal learning goals.
Additionally, boys in Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth can opt for the Arabic option course, taught by Mr Shirwani twice a week. The course aims to provide a foundational understanding of the language while also introducing students to the culture of the Arab world. We also have the Ibn Battuta Essay Prize, which allows entrants to undertake a piece of independent research on a topic related to the region. Finally, there is the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Society. In recent months, MENA has hosted a variety of interesting events, including a Q&A with a BAFTA-winning Director and a guided tour of Islamic Manuscripts in the College Collections.
