The Frame, The Sausage, The Oil: Humor and Politics in Algeria’s Protests

via the always excellent ArabLit — Arabic Literature and Translation The pith and humor of Algerian protest signs will surely be an inspiration for literature to come: By Nadia Ghanem Since the official announcement on February 10 of this year that Algeria’s 82-year-old current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was set to run for a fifth term on April 18, 2019, peaceful marches have been taking place across Algeria. Bouteflika, who … Read more The Frame, The Sausage, The Oil: Humor and Politics in Algeria’s Protests

Constantine, Algeria: “Makach al khamssa ya Bouteflika” — Photos by Habib Tengour

The demonstrations in Algeria are a breath of fresh air in & for the Maghreb. Women & children in the front rows. It looks like the country has finally woken up from a long, long sleep. During what came to be called the 2011 “Arab Spring” in Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Libya, the “chape de plomb,” the leaden weight (the expression derives from a medieval instrument of torture) that lay over … Read more Constantine, Algeria: “Makach al khamssa ya Bouteflika” — Photos by Habib Tengour

Day of Blogging for Ahmed Naji: His Reading Recommendations

BY MLYNXQUALEY on MAY 16, 2016 • ( 0 ) From noon on Monday, May 16 through noon on Tuesday, May 17, the world will host a “Day of Blogging for Ahmed Naji.” This comes on the same day he receives his PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, in absentia, in NYC: Naji has been in jail since February 20 on charges of “violating public morals” with a published excerpt of … Read more Day of Blogging for Ahmed Naji: His Reading Recommendations

Adonis in Osnabruck

Last September I wrote a blog entry about the Syrian poet Adonis receiving the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize of the city of Osnabrück & the resistance from a range of quarters to this award. You can read my original post here. Since then a fair amount of pressure has been put on the award committee demanding the award be rescinded, while the man who was supposed to give the laudatio — last … Read more Adonis in Osnabruck

THE TALK WRITER OMAR HAZEK WOULD’VE GIVEN IF HE’D BEEN ALLOWED TO RECEIVE HIS FREE-SPEECH AWARD

via Arab Literature (in English) & MLYNXQUALEY on JANUARY 16, 2016 • ( 1 ) Earlier this week, Omar Hazek was prevented from leaving Egypt to receive the 2016 Oxfam Novib/PEN Award for Freedom of Expression: What follows is a transcript of the talk he would’ve given, in translation, if he’d been there to receive his free-speech award: PEN International and Oxfam Novib, Ladies & Gentlemen: I would like to thank you … Read more THE TALK WRITER OMAR HAZEK WOULD’VE GIVEN IF HE’D BEEN ALLOWED TO RECEIVE HIS FREE-SPEECH AWARD

Poetry, ‘A More Serious Crime Than Murder’

Once again from the Arabic Literature (in English) website: Poetry, ‘A More Serious Crime Than Murder’ BY MLYNXQUALEY on FEBRUARY 11, 2014 • ( 1 ) It hasn’t been a good few weeks for Arabic-writing poets. In Qatar, Muhammad al-Ajami remains in prison. In Iran, poet Hashem Shaabani, who published both in Persian and in Arabic, was executed for being an enemy of God and the state, according to rights groups. In Egypt, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information … Read more Poetry, ‘A More Serious Crime Than Murder’

Understanding a Revolution Through Iconography:

Tunisian Political Cartoonist_Z_ [ via MLYNXQUALEY & her Arabic Literature (in English) site] Neila Columbo recently listened to and met with _Z_, the Tunisian political cartoonist who blogs at http://www.debatunisie.com/:By Neila ColumboFrom a video profile on Z, done by Samar Media. Various scenarios fluttered in my thoughts when I learned the Tunisian political cartoonist _Z_, who rose to prominence during the 2010-2011 Tunisian Revolution, would be speaking in Boston in the fall. … Read more Understanding a Revolution Through Iconography:

Interview on Maghreb Anthology in “Africa Is A Country”

The Book of North African Literature: Pierre Joris on Poetry and Miscegenation. By Orlando Reade. December 5 2013. A 743-page anthology of North African literature was published by the University of California last year. Ranging from documents made in sixth century Carthage to experimental prose published months after the 2011 uprisings, the Book of North African Literature is the fourth installment in the Poems for the Millenium, a series initiated in 1995 by Pierre … Read more Interview on Maghreb Anthology in “Africa Is A Country”

Qatar Upholds 15-year Sentence for Poet Muhammad al-Ajami

via Arabic Literature (in English) by mlynxqualey Bad news Monday from Qatar’s Court of Cassation: Poet Mohamed al-Ajami’s 15-year prison term was upheld as final. Al-Ajami’s lawyer, Najib al-Naimi, told media outlets that al-Ajami’s only remaining option was to appeal to the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for clemency. Al-Naimi told AFP that “I hope the emir will grant him an amnesty.” Reuters reported that the court’s decision had … Read more Qatar Upholds 15-year Sentence for Poet Muhammad al-Ajami

Tonight at Poets House

I’ll be there: Coming up at Poets House Tuesday, October 1, 7:00pm Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here Reading & Panel Discussion In response to the 2007 destruction of Baghdad’s centuries-old literary district, poet and bookseller Beau Beausoleil founded the Al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition, which has evolved over five years to include an international traveling exhibit composed of artists’ books and broadsides, a selection of which are on display at Poets House … Read more Tonight at Poets House

Nomadics

Category: “Arab Spring”