ABU DHABI // Auditions for the popular TV show Million's Poet finish today, as the last budding Nabati, or Bedouin, poets compete to be finalists when the third season begins in January. Although thousands audition only 48 poets will make it to the televised stages of the 16-week competition, which will be filmed live at Al Raha Beach Theatre in Abu Dhabi and broadcast on Abu Dhabi TV.
The stakes are higher this time, with bigger cash prizes including Dh5 million (US$1.4m) - up from Dh1m last year - for the winner. The auditions, which began on Monday at the National Theatre, have been taking place around the Gulf region and Jordan for the past five weeks. In their search for contestants the show's judging panel travelled to Libya, a country that prides itself on its Bedouin heritage and cherishes the traditional Nabati dialect. While there, the judges invited a number of poets to audition in Abu Dhabi. Fans of the show will have to wait another few weeks to find out who has been chosen to compete.
Million's Poet has become the most popular show in the region. Its ratings have soared since the debut season, attracting millions of viewers and raising interest in a form of poetry that has been passed down through the generations. There are several theories as to where and how traditional Nabati poetry originated. One is that it stems from the Arabic word nabat, which means "to derive from", and refers to the change in Arabic dialects as nomadic tribes began to emigrate.
The five judges will once again be Sultan al Amimi, a well-known writer and Nabati poet from the UAE, Dr Ghassan al Hassan, a professor and Arabic poetry specialist from Jordan, Turki al Murikhi, a magazine editor from Saudi Arabia, Hamad al Saeed, a Kuwaiti editor of a poetry magazine, and Badr al Sefoug, a founding member of several poetry magazines from Kuwait. Those wishing to participate in season three must be aged between 18 and 45, and have a poem not exceeding 20 verses in the Nabati style. Assessment of the poets depends on several criteria, including rhythm, rhyme and presentation. Application forms are available in Million's Poet magazine or can be downloaded from the show's website www.nabati.ae
