ALBAWABA - Wales has appointed the first Muslim national poet in an incredibly huge step towards cultural and religious dialogue.
She writes:
So relieved I can finally say:
— Hanan Issa (@hanan_issa_) July 6, 2022
I’m the National Poet of Wales! @LitWales
Poetry is such a huge part of Welsh culture and I’m excited to succeeding the wonderful @iforapglyn .
Took the opportunity to dress up as Blodeuwedd @cardiff_castle pic.twitter.com/vO1BUWSdDD
The name of Hanan Issa is trending all over the social media. She is a Welsh-Iraqi. She is fluent in Arabic, English and Welsh and maneuvers in all three languages.
Delighted to share my debut short ‘The Golden Apple’ made with @FfilmCymruWales and @BBCWales - a modern fairytale inspired by the many incredible young people leading the way on environmentalism and looking to the future ??✨ https://t.co/svLxUw52RG
— Hanan Issa (@hanan_issa_) July 8, 2022
She got the title as the "National Poet of Wales" after extensive selection and will represent Wales for the next three years as an accomplished writer publisher.
One writes:
I am so proud to live in Wales right now. This young woman's appointment is well-deserved; heaven knows it takes a great poet to make the cynghanedd form of poetry their own. #HananIssa #NationalPoetofWales ???https://t.co/LJYISHDJnS
— ⚫ Kaz Alexander #NHSLove ? (@WarphobblerKaz) July 7, 2022
Another sees it as a great contribution to building a multi-cultural society:
"I’ve always been comfortable being in a space where I don’t fully understand what other people are saying... it’s a really important step forward for us to start seeing ourselves as a multilingual, multicultural nation.”https://t.co/8wh9Elnw8W
— John Williams (@JohnWil19545421) July 8, 2022
But not so fast. Another points out:
How many dickheads will yell about "political correctness gone mad" and the "woke brigade", being too thick to understand she's A. Welsh*, B. fluent in Welsh & C. an expert on ancient Welsh poetry?
— John Lloyd (@Cyclopunk) July 7, 2022
(*South Welsh, unfortunately, but it's good enough.)https://t.co/llucOYj4dI
This is not to forget that Issa is an accomplished film-maker and an artist who happens to wear the hijab.
