Is this the end of Arab cultural hubs in the British capital? 

Al-Saqi housed many literary works written and published in the Arab world, but also ones written and published in the West about the Arab world. 

The bookstore played a pioneering role in promoting Arab culture, one that its founders and visitors alike kept invigorating as years passed. But unfortunately, the grey clouds that settled in recent times over the book and publishing industry did not spare the bookstore.  

Soon, Al-Saqi's roof caved in under the pressure of the raging economic storm, which the owners say was the primary reason for the store's closure. 

However, Dar al-Saqi, the shop's publishing arm, reassured customers in a tweet that despite the bookstore shutting down, "the legacy lives on through its two independent publishing houses, the Beirut-based Arabic-language publisher Dar al-Saqi and its English sister publisher Saqi Books in London, which will both continue to operate and publish books." 

Banipal also played a leading role in the Arab cultural and literary scene in London. The magazine left an indelible mark on the Arabic literary translation world as its first magazine focused on the translation of Arabic literature into English.  

Banipal presented the creations of Arab writers to the world and also introduced Arab writers of different nationalities to each other through its publication of specialised volumes that represented the wealth of Arabic literature and masterfully translated its works into English. 

In autumn 2022, Banipal announced that its 75th English-language issue will be its last ever, but said that its Spanish-language edition will continue to hit the bookstands. In other words, this cultural endeavour will carry on away from London, its place of origin, but only for Spanish readers.  

Banipal Publishing will also continue publishing books, stepping away from the tedious and endless work of media. 

In a farewell ceremony organised by Banipal in London on 18 January, British journalist Margaret Obank and her Iraqi partner Samuel Shamoon, co-founders of the magazine, did not hide their wish to retire after many years of hard work.  

They said that some entities had reached out to offer support and funding for the magazine to keep going, but that they were not looking for support as much as for someone to entrust with the future of the magazine. 

In her editorial for the last issue, Obank wrote: "Is the magazine's role done? Absolutely not. Arabic literature will always need a magazine like Banipal.

In fact, more than one. We′re closing at No 75, not because the magazine is no longer necessary but because we, as central producers, can no longer continue to operate." 

She continued: "We no longer have the physical energy necessary and believe that for the magazine to continue, there must be new blood, a young staff, all with the same enthusiasm and conviction that we have had all these years." 

Passing of the torch 

The issue seems to lie beyond mere financial reasons. Fatigued from running their projects over the course of several decades, the creators of these cultural endeavours want to take their much-needed soldier's rest and pass the torch to a new generation that commits to presenting its visions and perceptions of its literature, cultural, and historical wealth to the Western world.  

As sad as the end of such projects that have defined Arab contemporary cultural heritage in the West may be, now is not the time for eulogies.  

Instead, we must focus on understanding the current situation and presence of Arab culture in the West and explore ways to cement this presence, despite the cultural regression we see today and the mysterious future that is looming on the horizon. 

Perhaps the answers inherently engender more questions — ones that ponder the use of carrying on in a world that increasingly shuns culture, literature, and books as neither essential nor necessary.

It also doesn't help that media and political currents increasingly overshadow and outweigh their cultural counterpart. 

Digitised books are growing in popularity, and sales of Arabic books in particular have hit a slump in the West, driven by the rise in technology and social media, but also by the changes in contemporary lifestyle, not to mention inflated book prices that weaken both sales and the ability to keep publishing. 

Modern reading applications, the abundance of e-books, pirated or legal, the advances in media and communications, and changing reading habits, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, have all contributed to minimising both the bookshop and the magazine's role.  

A new rhythm of life is emerging, driven by the hectic and consumerist nature of the modern world. 

Arab cultural exchange not doomed 

Still, the end of projects such as these that have shouldered the burden over decades does not necessarily entail the end of Arab-Western cultural exchange.

Efforts to bridge the gap have been launched by online stores and digital media outlets, with other budding projects also seeking a sturdy springboard from which to launch. 

The accomplishments of Al-Saqi and Banipal are deserving of respect and admiration. Hopefully, they will be precursors to future projects that will continue the journey despite bumps in the road.  

After all, venturing into such an adventure is worth the risk. Arab cultural and literary creativity deserves a presence in the various languages and cultures of the world and a chance to cement its historical glory to quash cliche prejudices that deprive the Arab culture of deserved appreciation.