Basra: The Popular Heritage Forum at the Union of Writers and Authors in Basra hosted writer and director Talib Mahmoud Al-Sayed on Wednesday evening for a discussion titled “Heritage Between the Authority of Oral Tradition and Documentation,” moderated by poet and media personality Abdul-Sada Al-Basri.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the session began with a welcoming address by heritage researcher Nawal Jawad, head of the forum, who highlighted the importance of heritage and folklore and the mechanisms for researching them.

Following this, moderator Abdul-Sada Al-Basri spoke about the guest’s work in the fields of oral heritage and filmmaking, mentioning his recently published short story collection, “Shleef Al-Thikrayat” (The Shelf of Memories), and then recounting his autobiography.

The floor was then given to the guest, Talib Al-Sayed, to take the audience on a journey through heritage and the mechanisms of its documentation or oral transmission. He pointed to several figures and personalities who influenced his life from a young age and instilled in him a love for researching folklore and popular heritage, including stories, proverbs, and the like.

Then, interventions enriched the session, with contributions from Nawal Jawad, Atouf Al-Husseini, Sabah Al-Sharif, Alaa Al-Issa, and Karrar Rahim.

In conclusion, a certificate of appreciation from the Basra Writers and Authors Union was presented to the guest, followed by a musical performance by the Jikor Art Group.