Roberto Alajmo
Palermo writer, among his books: Almanacco siciliano delle morti presunte (Edizioni della Battaglia, 1997), Le scarpe di Polifemo (Feltrinelli, 1998), Notizie del disastro (Garzanti, 2001), Cuore di madre (Mondadori, 2003), Nuovo repertorio dei pazzi della città di Palermo (Mondadori 2004), È stato il figlio (Mondadori, 2005). The two novels Cuore di madre and È stato il figlio are among the best results of new Sicilian fiction.

Maria Avino
Researcher at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature of the University “L’Orientale” Naples, teaches Arabic language and literature. She has translated various contemporary works of Arab fiction, including Soco Chico (Jouvcence 1996) and The Time of Errors (Theoria 1993) by Mohammad Shukri, Gold dust by Ibrahim al-Koni (Ilisso 2004). Among her publications: L’Occidente nella cultura araba (Jouvence 2002), in which the influence exercised by western culture on Arab intellectuals in the early decades of the XX century is analysed.

Pietro Barcellona
Full Professor of the Philosophy of law at the University of Catania. Since 1998 has directed the series “Strumenti/Scenari” for Dedalo editions. Among his many publications: L'individualismo proprietario (Bollati Boringhieri 1987), L'egoismo maturo e la follia del capitale (Bollati Boringhieri 1988), Dallo Stato sociale allo Stato immaginario (Bollati Boringhieri 1994), Il declino dello Stato (Dedalo 1998), L'individuo e la comunità (Edizioni Lavoro 2000), Quale politica per il Terzo millennio? (Dedalo 2000), Le passioni negate (Città Aperta 2001), La strategia dell'anima (Città Aperta 2003), Diritto senza società (Dedalo 2003), Il suicidio dell'Europa (Dedalo 2005).
 

Franco Antonio Belgiorno
For twenty years was the culture journalist at ZDF (second German television channel); during his time in Germany he has collaborated with different Italian and foreign periodicals and has worked as translator and cultural organizer. Returned to live in Modica, he has published various anthologies of short stories: the main ones being L'arca sicula (1999) and L'accalappiatempo (2001), both edited by Sellerio.

Salvatore Bono
Full Professor of History and Institutions of Afro-Asiatic Countries at the University of Perugia, president of SIHMED (Société Internationale des Historiens de la Méditerranée). He has directed the magazine “Islam. History and Civilisation” (1982-1993), and currently directs “Levante”. Author of a dozen volumes including: Storiografia e fonti occidentali sulla storia della Libia (L'Erma di Bretschneider 1982); Morire per questi deserti. Lettere di soldati italiani dal fronte libico (1911-12) (Abramo 1992), Corsari nel Mediterraneo (Mondadori 1993), Schiavi musulmani nell’Italia moderna (E.S.I. 1999), Il Mediterraneo da Lepanto a Barcellona (Morlacchi 2000).

Laura Bottini
Researcher at the University of Catania, based at Ragusa, teaches the History of the Islamic Countries at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature at the same University. Specialist in the history of medieval Islam, in particular Imami, she is also interested in Arab onomastics and prosopography.

Sebastiano Burgaretta
Scholar of popular traditions, Spanish history and literature, teaches at the Classical lyceum of Avola and collaborates with the University of Catania. He has organized various ethnoanthropological exhibitions. His essays have been published in the journals Otto-Novecento, Il Veltro, Il fuoco, Lares, La ricerca folklorica, Etnostoria, Il Cantastorie, Nuove Effemeridi, Kals. Besides many volumes of history and essays, he has published the following books of poetry: Diario del Golfo (Urso 1992), L’ala del tempo (Urso 1995), Epigràffi (Urso 1998), Mpizzu ri fuddia (Urso 1999), Trame del Mediterraneo (Urso 2003), Le ‘olàm (Il Girasole Edizioni 2004).

Isabella Camera d'Afflitto
Full Professor of Arabic and Arab Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature of the University “L’Orientale” of Naples; she collaborates with the University “Federico II” of Naples and with the University “Rovira i Virgili” of Tarragon. She was a member of the “Commission of National Prizes for Translation” of the Ministry for Heritage and Cultural Activities; of the international project “Memorie del Mediterraneo” (European Cultural Foundation of Amsterdam). She is a member of the “Jury International du Prix Sharjah pour la culture arabe” UNESCO. She has collaborated with various periodicals and publishers for the diffusion of the Arab culture in Italy. Among her publications: Scrittori Arabi del Novecento (2 vols., Bompiani 2002), Rose d’Arabia (E/O, 2001); Letteratura araba contemporanea dalla nahdah a oggi (Carocci 1998, IV ed. 2004).  

Mirella Cassarino
Researcher of Arabic and Arab Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature at the University of Catania (Ragusa). She is mainly interested in classic Arab literature, theory and history of translation by Arabs between VIII and XI century and in Sicilian Arabism. Among her publications the essays Traduzioni e traduttori arabi fra l’VIII e l’XI secolo (Salerno Editrice 1998), L’aspetto morale e religioso nell’opera di Ibn al-Muqaffa’, (Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino 2000) e la traduzione del Kitab al-i’tibar di Usama Ibn Munqidh (Le lezioni della vita. Un principe siriano e le Crociate, Ariele 2001).

Saverio Costanzo
He has made advertisements and documentary films (Caffè Mille Luci, Brooklyn, New York, 1999, dedicated to Italian immigrants to New York; Sala rossa, 2001, dedicated to the life of a hospital casualties ward), before debuting with full-length films with Private. Sala rossa gained him an award at the Turin Festival. On the occasion of a journey to Israel he discovered the facts that inspired Private, making it into a film script, in collaboration with Sayed Qushua. The film won the Pardo d’oro at the Festival of Locarno 2004 and he has won the David of Donatello 2005 as the best debutant film director.

Laura D’Andrea Petrantoni
A Mediterranean artist, who lives in Sicily at Kamarina and in Rome. Her work has always focused on the most important themes of the history and roots of the Mediterranean. Her study on “Predominance of Islamic Graphic Elements” was presented in 1980 in Rome to the Islamic Centre by Prof. Francesco Gabrieli and to the Institute of Egyptian Culture by Farouk Osni (today the Minister of Culture in Cairo). She has exhibited her works (installations, etchings and work with various materials), on “The Baroque Imagination” and “The Greek Memory”, re-examined in a post-modern vein, in Sicily, Rome, the European Parliament, Paris, London and Stockholm.

Nino De Vita
Sicilian poet, born and lives in Marsala, where he teaches. Author of poems in language and dialect of Cutusiu, he has published numerous plaquettes and the books Fosse Chiti (Amadeus 1989), Cutusiu (Mesogea 2001) and Cùntura (Mesogea 2003). In 1996 he was awarded the Moravia prize and in 2003 the Mondello prize. He takes care of the Leonardo Sciascia Foundation, of whom he was a close friend.the following have written about his poetry: Maria Attanasio, Vincenzo Consolo, Giorgio Delia, Alessandro Fo, Pietro Gibellini, Enzo Siciliano and others. He is among the major Sicilian poets of his generation.

Riccardo Emmolo
Native of Scicli, he lives in Modica where he teaches Humanities in the local Psycho-Pedagogical lyceum. A much-appreciated poet and translator, author of the volume Ombra e destino ed altre poesie (Moretti e Vitali 2002), he has recently translated the book of Jean-Pierre Jossua La passione dell’infinito nella letteratura (Argo 2005). He is working on a critical monograph about Giuseppe Conte.

Luciano Granozzi
Teacher of  contemporary history at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature at the University of Catania and collaborator of the Nuova storia d'Italia, Bompiani, he has published various essays in volumes of collected writings and specialised journals. Among recent publications are the volumes: Lo sguardo dei consoli. La Sicilia di metà Ottocento nei dispacci degli agenti francesi (Agorà Edizioni, 2001) and Alla ricerca dei "veri" capitalisti. Studi sulle élites economiche nell'Italia dell'Ottocento (Cuecm, 2002). At present he is working on a "The Sicilian Revolt of 1848 seen from France"; the translation of the slim volume Edmond Pellissier, Rapporto ad Alexis de Tocqueville sulla rivoluzione siciliana del 1848 (Catania 2003) is an anticipation.

Filippo La Porta
essayist and literary critic, writes for “L’Unità”, “Musica” and “D” of “la Repubblica”, “il Manifesto” and numerous other newspapers. Among his numerous publications: La nuova narrativa italiana (Bollati Boringhieri 1999), Manuale di scrittura creatina (Minimum Fax 1999), Narratori di un sud disperso (L'Ancora del Mediterraneo 2000); Il dovere della felicità (con Alessandro Carrera, Baldini Castoldi Dalai 2000); Pasolini. Uno gnostico innamorato della realtà (Le Lettere 2002) L'autoreverse dell'esperienza. Euforie e abbagli della vita flessibile (Bollati Boringhieri 2004).

José Luis Gotor López
Of Spanish origins, naturalized Italian, he is Full Professor of Spanish language and Literature, and pro-rector for International Relations at the “Tor Vergata”University of Rome. Member of the Society of Italian Linguistics from its foundation in 1967, Of the AIMAV (Association Internationale pour la recherche et la diffusion des Methodes Audio-Visuelle et structuro-globales) of Brussels, of the Asociación Europea de Profesores de Español, of the ASSLA (Associazione di Studi Sociali Latinoamericani), and of the Centro Romano di Semiotica. He has participated in various cultural programmes of the RAI.
He is a collaborator for Latin America of the ANSA agency, and he has been correspondent of “El País” (Madrid). He is a professional Italian journalist and author of numerous essays published in Italy and abroad.

Stefano Malatesta
Journalist and special correspondent of the daily paper “la Repubblica”, author of numerous books and director of the series “Il cammello battriano” for the editor Neri Pozza. among his books: Il grande mare di sabbia. Storie del deserto (Neri Pozza 2001), Il cammello battriano. In viaggio lungo la via della seta (Neri Pozza 2002, Premio Comisso), Il napoletano che domò gli afghani (Neri Pozza 2002), Il cane che andava per mare e altri eccentrici siciliani (Neri Pozza 2003, Premio Settembrini).

Paolo Matthiae
Full Professor of Archaeology and the History of the Art of the Ancient Near East at the “La Sapienza” University of Rome. A world renowned archaeologist, discoverer of the archaeological site of Ebla, in Syria, where he directs the Italian archaeological mission. Among his numerous publications: Il sovrano e l'opera. Arte e potere nella Mesopotamia antica (Laterza 1994), Ebla. La città rivelata (Electa Gallimard 1995), Ebla. Un impero ritrovato (Einaudi 1995), L'arte degli Assiri (Laterza 1996); La storia dell'arte dell'Oriente antico (Electa Mondadori 1996-2000); Ninive. Capitale degli Assiri (Electa Mondadori 1998).   

Marco Meriggi
Born in  Savigliano (CN), he is a contracted professor of Semitic Philology at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature at the University of Catania (Ragusa). He has published articles and reviews on unedited Aramaic texts of the V-VIII AD in the journals East&West (Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient, Rome); Henoch (Department of Oriental Studies, Jewish Studies section, University of Turin); Asprenas (Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, Naples). He is author of the first complete grammar book of Syriac (eastern Aramaic of Christian setting), used for the magic cups of Mesopotamia (La lingua delle coppe magiche siriache, Firenze 2004). He was an effective member of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Iraq (Hatra 1998).

Aldo Nicosia
Contract teacher of Arabic and Arab Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature at the University of Catania. Since 1996 he has carried out the role of translator-interpreter of Arab for the Ministry of the Interior. He prefers the research area of Arab dialectology and sociolinguistics, contemporary Middle Eastern fiction, cinema and the mass media. He has published translations and articles on the above-mentioned themes.

Santo Piazzese
Biologist, è nato born in Palermo, dove vive e lavora come where he lives and works as a researcher in the Faculty of Sciences. He made his debut as a novelist in 1996 with I delitti di via Medina-Sidonia, followed by La doppia vita di M Laurent (’98) and Il soffio della valanga (2002), all published by Sellerio. Winner of various Italian and foreign literary prizes (including the Premio Bergamo), collaborates with “La Repubblica”, “Limes”, “Cooperazione” and other magazines. His novels, with which he has established himself as one of the most interesting voices of the contemporary Italian thriller, have been translated in France, Germany, Brazil and Egypt. the first two novels have been earmarked for the small screen by the Rai.  

Antonio Pioletti
Professor of Romance Philology at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature of the University of Catania and Dean of the Faculty, he is also President of the Conference National of Language Deans. His scientific activities are centred on various lines of study, including: the models and interpretation of the
Arthurian romance, structural aspects of the chansons de geste, authors and genres of medieval Italian literature, relationships in medieval narrative between the literature of the Orient and the Occident, theoretical aspects of the "forms" of the medieval epic. Among his publications: Forme del racconto arturiano (Liguori, 1984), La fatica d'amore. On the review of  the «Floire et Blancheflor» (Rubbettino, 1992) and the edition of Le Bel Inconnu by Renaut de Beaujeu (Il bel cavaliere sconosciuto, Pratiche Editrice, 1992).

(don) Pino Ruggieri
Born in Pozzallo, he is a priest of the diocese of Noto. At present he is rector of the church of S. Nicolò all'Arena in Catania. He studied theology in Rome and Münster. He has taught in various universities (Pontificia Università Urbaniana and Pontificia Università Gregoriana in Rome; Eberhard Karls Universität of Tübingen). Currently he is Ordinary of fundamental theology at the Studio Teologico S. Paolo of Catania. He was director of the journal Communio and was a member of the directing Committee of the international journal Concilium. At present he is director of the journal Cristianesimo nella storia. Among his main works: Sapienza e storia (Jaca Book, 1971); La compagnia della fede (Marietti, 1980); Cristianesimo, chiese e vangelo (Il Mulino, 2002).

Giuseppe Traina
Researcher in Italian Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature at the University of Catania, Ragusa. He is interested in D’Annunzio, De Roberto, Sciascia, Bufalino, Ortese, Fortini, Antonio Porta and Consolo. He has published three books on Sciascia - La soluzione del cruciverba (S.Sciascia, 1994), Leonardo Sciascia (Bruno Mondadori, 1999), In un destino di verità (La Vita Felice, 1999) – and a monograph on Vincenzo Consolo (Cadmo, 2001). He collaborates with “L’Indice”, “L’Immaginazione”, “Atelier”, “Stilos” and “La Rassegna della Letteratura Italiana”.

Ahmad ‘Abd al Waliyy Vincenzo.
He is among the founders of the Centre for Metaphysical Studies of Milan, which unites Christian and Muslim intellectuals in the prospective of the study of doctrinal principles of the Abramic traditions. He has participated in numerous seminars in Europe and in the Orient with Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars. He is a founder member of the Italian International Association for Information on Islam; since 1997 he is part of CO.RE.IS., Comunità Religiosa Islamica Italiana. He collaborates with the University La Sapienza of Rome and Federico II of Naples, for the project of understanding between the State and the Islamic Community in Italy; teacher of “History and Law in Islam” at the Unitre of Milan. Among his publications Islam, l’altra civiltà, (Mondadori 2002); and the historical novel Il Libro disceso dal Cielo – Zayd, il ragazzo che scrisse la prima copia del Corano (Salani 2005)..

Egi Volterrani
Painter, engraver, graphic artist, scenographer and architect, he has organized many reviews and cultural festivals of theatre, cinema and music. He has  collaborated and collaborates with various art, architecture and literature journals, as well as, occasionally, with the daily papers La Stampa, la Repubblica, Il Mattino. He has edited the translation of numerous essays, novels, theatrical works, anthologies of stories or of poetry and poems by prevalently French speaking authors, of different cultural areas. He is a member of the Committee of experts of the Ministry for Heritage and Cultural Activities of the Italian Republic for the translation and diffusion of the book and reading. Among his more recent publications: Dedica a Amin Maaoluf (Assoprosa 2002); Dedica a Vassili Vassilikos (Assoprosa 2003); Dedica ad Assia Djebar (Assoprosa 2004).

Nunzio Zago
Is Full Professor of Italian Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Foreign Literature of the University of Catania, based in Ragusa. He is scientific director of the Gesualdo Bufalino di Comiso Foundation. Among his
publications, the monographs Un poeta della “Toscanina”: Antonio Guadagnoli (Flaccovio, 1981), I gattopardi e le iene (Sellerio, 1983), Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. La figura e l’opera (Pungitopo, 1987), Gesualdo Bufalino. La figura e l’opera (Pungitopo, 1987), Racconto della letteratura siciliana (Maimone, 2000) and various anthologies of essays on Italian Literature, Da Dante al Novecento: L’ombra del moderno (Sciascia, 1992), Sicilianerie (Salarchi Immagini, 1997), La parola reticente nel “Decameron” and other essays (Salarchi Immagini, 2000), Voci della letteratura italiana fra “buon governo” e altre moralità
(Università di Catania, 2003). Among others, he has edited the anthology Cento Sicilie, with Gesualdo Bufalino (La Nuova Italia, 1993) and an edition of the Viceré di Federico De Roberto (Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, 1998).