Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project

Conferences

Official Conference Report
The First International Conference
on Kahlil Gibran:
The Poet of the Culture of Peace

      A groundbreaking event entitled "The First International Conference on Kahlil Gibran: the Poet of the Culture of Peace" was held at the University of Maryland, College Park, from December 9-12, 1999. This international, multicultural gathering drew 150 participants with representatives coming from Algeria, Australia, Canada, Egypt, England, France, Guadeloupe, Ireland, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Peoples Republic of China, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

      The conference was organized by the Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project at the University of Maryland. The Gibran Project is dedicated to addressing ethical and social determinants of public justice and peace. Scholars working under the auspices of the Gibran Project study matters of cultural pluralism, human rights, and the role of the arts, poetry, and literature in promoting international communication and cooperation. Among its activities, the Gibran Project conducts interdisciplinary research projects and organizes international conferences and seminars on the role of values, culture, and literature in conflict resolution and peace-building.

      Kahlil Gibran, the famous Lebanese-American poet and painter, has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. Born in Lebanon in 1883, Gibran immigrated to the United States at the age of twelve, where he later gained international renown as a poet and painter. He died in 1931. His message and images have resonated among peoples of diverse cultures and brought them together in appreciation of his art. His major work, The Prophet, is currently one of the most widely read books in the world. In his life and works—which were inspired by his experiences as an immigrant in an adopted land—Gibran resolved cultural and human conflicts and developed in the process a unique consciousness, one that transcended the barriers of East and West. His belief in the unity of being, his awareness of spiritual continuity, and his call for universal fellowship and the unification of the human race, all retain their potency today, as do the messages of all great poets.

      Among the great poets of the last one hundred years it would be hard to find one who has toiled and labored more arduously than Gibran to promote a universal culture of peace, one that unites both East and West. The organizers of the First International Conference on Kahlil Gibran thought it fitting that this gathering should be held in anticipation of the advent of UNESCO's International Year of the Culture of Peace. During the year 2000, UNESCO will collaborate with a wide range of partners to advance a global movement towards a culture of peace.

      The purpose of the First International Conference on Kahlil Gibran was not just to commemorate Gibran's life and work, but to consolidate efforts to preserve and promote his unique legacy, particularly in the academic field. Poets, students, writers, political leaders, scholars, and artists, came together not only to study Gibran's poetry, art works, and vision of a global society, but also to initiate and develop definite plans for preserving Gibran's legacy and establish a Gibran canon worthy of his exceptional accomplishments as a writer and artist.

      A distinguished roster of academic, cultural, and political figures formally opened the conference with a series of inspiring addresses that touched on themes such as Gibran and the emerging global society, ongoing initiatives to preserve the legacy of Gibran, and Gibran's visions of cultural reconciliation and world peace. These presentations were preceded and followed by musical recitals performed by accomplished musicians. Prominent officials of the University of Maryland actively participated in the opening ceremony. Dr. Irwin Goldstein, Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, chaired the opening ceremony and introduced the speakers. Dr. Gregory Geoffroy, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Ernest Wilson, III, Director of the Center for International Development and Conflict Management, delivered welcoming addresses.

      Mr. Frank Method, UNESCO's representative in Washington, DC, hailed the goals of the conference and told the assembly that it was an honor for UNESCO to be formally affiliated with the initiative. Mr. Method explained that the Gibran conference would address some of the very themes that are of central concern to UNESCO, such as the equality of men and women; justice, freedom and democracy; faith and reason; ecology and the environment; and universal peace.

      Mrs. Leila Tannous, representing the International Advisory Board of the Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project, delivered an address entitled "A Global Culture of Peace and Unity: The Enduring Vision of Kahlil Gibran." Mrs. Tannous reflected upon the philosophy, work, and life of Gibran the artist, author, and thinker. In a moving peroration, Mrs. Tannous noted that in our own time—a time of change and uncertainty around the globe—it is essential for us to seek out and draw inspiration from past visionaries who can help illuminate our unknown and unknowable path to the future.

      The Poet Francis Warner not only shared the bounty of his own moving words with the assembly, he also read an inspiring letter addressed to the conference from the Poet Kathleen Raine, who attended the gathering in spirit if not in body. Mr. Fouad Hanna Daher, representing the Gibran National Committee of Lebanon, presented Professor Suheil Bushrui with a bust of Gibran in appreciation for his outstanding services to the field of Gibran studies.

      The Guest of Honor, Dr. Farid Abboud, Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States, declared that "for the duration of this conference the University of Maryland is declared the literary, cultural and spiritual capital of the world." Ambassador Abboud applauded the spirit of the conference, noting that "this event serves as an inspiration by reminding us of a single human from a remote village in Lebanon who was able to transcend all geographic and cultural barriers and to become a universal being, and a shining light to guide humanity towards peace and unity."

      Mr. Farid Salman, a Lebanese author and critic, was honored to receive the first Kahlil Gibran International Award for his exceptional services to the preservation of the legacy of Kahlil Gibran. The award was announced and presented by Professor Suheil Bushrui, Director of the Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project. After receiving the award, Mr. Salman delivered the conference's keynote address.

      The opening ceremony concluded with an inspiring piano recital by Mr. Nikan Milani, who performed selections by Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt. The selection of pieces was guided by the predilection Gibran expressed in a letter to Mary Haskell for the music of Beethoven and others. The selections were from works of composers who, as leading exponents of musical Romanticism, could naturally be featured in a program dedicated to the memory of the founder of the Romantic School of Arabic literature. As a very special salute to the Lebanese-American artist, Mr. Milani performed a tribute to Kahlil Gibran in oriental modes composed by himself.

      Consequent with the inspiring tone of the opening ceremony, subsequent days of the conference featured a variety of activities that illuminated numerous aspects of Gibran's legacy. Panel presentations and dialogues featured a distinguished array of scholars, thinkers, and artists who addressed a range of salient topics. The following events, among others, took place: a panel on the Immigrant Experience in America; two dialogues (one in English and one in Arabic) on the legacy of Kahlil Gibran; a Youth Session addressing Gibran's vision as it pertains to justice, universal peace, equality of men and women, interreligious understanding, and spirituality; and reports on methods in use around the world to present Gibran's poetry and paintings to a mass audience.

      The First International Conference on Kahlil Gibran also featured a number of spirited artistic presentations. In fact, every evening of the conference was dedicated to artistic explorations of Gibran's legacy. One evening was dedicated to a four-person recitation of Gibran's English and Arabic poetry. On another occasion, Mr. Michel El-Ashkar premiered a one-man dramatic interpretation of Kahlil Gibran in the form of a two-act play written and performed by himself. Mr. Nikan Milani provided musical accompaniment on the piano for Mr. El-Ashkar's well-received performance.

      For most of the conference, a fifty-panel exhibition was on display in a specially designated venue. The exhibit was written and organized by Professor Suheil Bushrui, Director of the Kahlil Gibran Research and Studies Project and an internationally recognized authority on Gibran. The exhibition offered a detailed, chronological exploration of Gibran's artistic works and also profiled significant personages in Gibran's life. One panel on display described the circumstances of the meeting between Gibran and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 1912, including a reproduction of the charcoal portrait that resulted from that meeting and the words Gibran wrote describing his impressions of the spiritual leader.

      Those attending the First International Conference on Kahlil Gibran commented on the exceptionally high standard of scholarship on display, the wonderful spirit of fellowship that had been attained, the positive views and ideas that were shared, and the profound personal influence that the event exerted upon them. The conference organizers are planning future Gibran events that will build upon the fruits of what was accomplished at Maryland.