Georgia: A collection of poems by six Georgian female poets, titled “I am many”, was presented in Ghent, Belgium, on December 10, 2023.
The event was part of the international festival “Europe-Georgia”, which showcases Georgian culture and heritage in various European countries.
The book features Georgian, French and Dutch poems. It was published by the Georgian publishing house “Intelekti” with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia.
The poets included in the book are Lia Sturua, Rusudan Kaishauri, Ella Gochiashvili, Maya Sarishvili, Irma Shiolashvili and Lela Samniashvili.
Their poems reflect their personal experiences, emotions, thoughts and views on various topics, such as love, nature, identity, history and society.
The presentation was attended by:
- Alexander Grigalashvili, the representative of the Georgian Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth
- Ketevan Dumbadze, the director of the House of Georgian Writer
- Rusudan Mosidze, the publisher of the book
- Ingrid Dekhrave, the translator of the poems into Dutch
- And representatives of the festival “Europe-Georgia”.
The poets read their poems to the audience and answered their questions. They also received positive feedback and appreciation from the listeners. Natalia Mandaria, a Georgian writer who lives in Belgium, moderated the discussion and shared her insights on the Georgian literature scene.
The event also featured a performance by the Belgian folklore group “Neighbors”, who sang Georgian folk songs, including “Mavavalzhamieri”, a traditional wedding song. The audience enjoyed the musical interlude and joined the singers in some songs.
The presentation of the book “I am Many” was one of the many events organized by the festival “Europe-Georgia”, which aims to promote Georgian culture and art in Europe and to strengthen the ties between Georgia and the European Union.
The festival, which runs from October 4, 2023, to February 28, 2024, includes exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, workshops, lectures and other activities in Belgium and its neighbouring countries.
Two of the highlights of the festival are the exhibitions of Georgian national treasures: “Avant-garde in Georgia – 1900-1936” at the Fine Art Center “Bozar” in Brussels and “Georgia – Meeting Place” at the Royal Museum of History and Art in Brussels.
