Hissa Hilal: Update from 25 March Final in Million's Poet

So how did Hissa do in yesterday's competition?

Here's Bader Asman's report on the Million's Poet website.   The article is worth a read as it gives some background on the competition, the judges' analysis of the poems, and some additional information, including a trip the contestants took to Abu Tinah Island - which Abu Dhabi is promoting as one of the wonders of the world..  

This show is fairly popular.   Imagine, if you can,  an "American Idol style show"  except in this one the contestants recite classical poetry.  Nabati poetry.  Here's a webpage of a rather prolific Nabati poet from the UAE with an explanation of the genre as well as some of his poems..

Some background on scoring.  The judges will award 60 points and the public's vote will be translated into another 40 points.  

The judge's points are awarded in two stages.  30 yesterday and 30 next week Wednesday at the final session when the winner will be announced.  Public voting continues until the end of next week's final program.

The five finalist poets will then be ranked according to their total scores with the first place winner receiving AED 5 million, the second place winner AED 4 million and so on.

Here are the results for Wednesday's program:

1. Hissa Hilal (Saudi Arabia) - 28 out of 30 points for her poem on the media.  She described it as a device which spreads both good and bad news, praised the "enlightened" press for battling censorship and evil, and commended those journalists who gave their lives to achieve these ends.
2. Sultan AlAsaymar (Kuwait) - 28 out of 30 for his poem on terrorism.  Reportedly the images were powerful and direct.  The terrorist is ready to act even if it means destroying the smile of a child.  The terrorist has a cancer of the mind and no real homeland. 
3. Fallah AlMoragi (Kuwait) - 27 out of 30 for his poem on the Arabian Gulf (peoples, history, geography).
4. Jazaa al Boqami (Saudi Arabia) - 26 out of 30 for his poem on women.  Woman, a magical creature who though she faces ignorance and oppression, does not lose her inner essence.
5. Nasser al Ajmi (Kuwait) - 26 out of 30 for his poem praising the bravery and loyalty of soldiers defending their country. 

 At this point, Hissa is in the lead though I think the outcome is still far from certain. 

Next week Wednesday each of the five remaining contestants is to recite a poem they believe is the most beautiful written (outside of this contest).  The only constraint is that it cannot exceed 20 "bayts" (verses).  It can be an old poem or a new poem.  And apparently must be by someone other than the contestant.

The winner of the previous year's contest (Million's Poet 2009) has the right to defend his title as Million's Poet against this year's winner.  Ziyad Bin Hijab Bin Nahayt from Saudi Arabia who won the honors in 2009 has decided not to.  So one of the five contestants will be the Million's Poet for 2010.

All posts on Hissa now have the label "Hissa Hilal".