Rome Takes Center Stage During Italian Language Week in Bosnia

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, 21 OTT - The 26th Week of the Italian Language in the World was a huge success with the public in Sarajevo, celebrated last night with a cultural event organized by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with the Sarajevo Committee of the Dante Alighieri Society. The event, hosted at the city’s Music High School and dedicated to the theme “A Brilliant Language: Conceiving, Designing, and Creating with Italian,” was organized once again this year in collaboration with Zetema, Rome’s in-house agency for culture and tourism. The star of the evening was writer and translator Elvira Mujčić. Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina and a well-established figure in the Italian literary scene for many years, Mujčić presented one of her unpublished short stories, introduced by Simona Cives, Director of the Rome Capital Library System. Mujčić, who arrived in Italy during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, chose Italian as the language of her literary work, using her novels and short stories to give voice to experiences and memories that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. In her introductory remarks, the Italian Ambassador, Sarah Eti Castellani, emphasized the value of the Italian language as a tool for creativity, innovation, and intercultural dialogue. Particular attention was given to the relations between Rome and Sarajevo. In the words of Rome’s Councilor for Culture, Massimiliano Smeriglio, who was present at the event, “Rome and Sarajevo share a relationship that we want to continue strengthening. We view cultural cooperation as a concrete way to bring people together, create opportunities, and build lasting bonds,” recalling the memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 between the two cities and the cultural initiatives carried out in recent years. The President of the Sarajevo Committee of the Dante Alighieri Society, Renato Scuzzarello, highlighted the role of Italian Language Week in promoting Italy’s linguistic and cultural heritage around the world, emphasizing that “language is also a way to bring people together, learn about other cultures, and build bonds that transcend borders.” The event brought together representatives from various Italian institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, teachers, students, and numerous enthusiasts of the Italian language and culture. The evening featured musical and theatrical performances by the students, as well as a musical interlude by soprano Hana Andrle, accompanied on the piano by Bakir Samardžić, and concluded with a roundtable discussion dedicated to the many forms of expression in the Italian language. Councilor Smeriglio’s visit also provided an opportunity for a meeting today at Sarajevo City Hall with Mayor Samir Avdic and Deputy Mayor Pedrag Puharic, during which ongoing and future collaborative activities were discussed. Among upcoming activities is the planned visit to Rome in November by the directors of Sarajevo’s museums. The possibility of collaboration in the library sector, as well as in the field of archaeological conservation, was also raised. Rome’s museum experience was also highlighted in support of the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art currently under construction in Sarajevo—designed by architect Renzo Piano—as an example of the role of art in building bridges between cities and countries.
Read article...