Egypt, Jordan discuss boosting agricultural cooperation    UK inflation accelerates in June on transport costs    Egypt rejects Gaza tent city proposals    Egypt condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Syria    Al-Sisi reviews Egypt's food security, strategic commodity reserves    Egypt signs strategic agreements to attract global investment in gold, mineral exploration    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Tut Group launches its operations in Egyptian market for exporting Egyptian products    China's urban jobless rate eases in June '25    Egypt's Health Minister reviews drug authority cooperation with WHO    Egypt urges EU support for Gaza ceasefire, reconstruction at Brussels talks    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt, Mexico explore joint action on environment, sustainability    Egypt, Mexico discuss environmental cooperation, combating desertification    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM urges BRICS to prioritise peace    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Nostalgic Migration
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 28 - 02 - 2010

In commemoration of Sudanese novelist and columnist Tayeb Salih's death a year ago, the Supreme Council for Culture held a one-day seminar last Monday on various aspects of his work, as well as his character and influence on Arab and Egyptian culture.
The day brought together familiar faces from the Egyptian literary scene to celebrate Salih's memory. Writers, critics, journalists, and interested audience members participated in intense discussions and presentations for almost 10 hours.
Salih was born in Karmakol in northern Sudan in 1929. He journeyed across different countries and cultures from Sudan to Britain and later the Gulf, and experimented with different professions such as teaching, writing, and broadcasting. Later he worked in the public sector as the director general at the Ministry of Information of Qatar. Saleh's works reflect his rich life experiences, and often deal with politically-charged themes such as colonialism and gender.
Despite living most of his life outside Sudan, Salih remained firmly connected to his roots. He is considered one of the most important writers of the contemporary period, and his book Season of Migration to the North, published in 1966, remains one of the most read widely Arabic novels. In 2001, it was selected as the “most important Arabic novel of the 20th century” by the Damascus-based Academy of Arab Letters.
Other Salih novels include The Cypriot Man (1978), The Wedding of Zein (1969) and The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid (1985), in addition to many short stories that are considered some of the best in modern Arabic literature. His novel The Wedding of Zein was turned into a movie that won an award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1976.
Emad Abu Ghazi, head of the Supreme Council for Culture, gave the opening speech last Monday, followed by novelist Khairi Shalabi who reminisced about his memories with Salih and the latter's engagement with Egyptian literary culture. Salih's brother, Mahmoud Othman Salih, talked about the Salih family and his brother's avid readers and supporters. He added that although Tayeb Salih had visited all 22 Arab states, Egypt had a special place in his heart that kept bringing him back to it. A representative from the Sudanese embassy, Ibrahim Adam, emphasized Salih's cultural importance to Sudan and the Arab world and read some excerpts from Salih's works.
The next two sessions featured critical discussions about Salih's works, with much focus on comparing Salih's writings to his personal life experiences. The panelists also discussed Salih's representations of Eastern and Western culture, and debated whether or not his literary works can be labelled postcolonial.
In the final session, Shalabi moderated a round-table discussion with some of Egypt's finest writers, including Bahaa Taher, Youssef Al Qaeed, and Hala el-Badri, who all shared their memories of Salih, but hardly discussed his work. Distinguished Egyptian writer Fawzia Mehran recounted stories about meeting Salih, and always feeling that she was a part of his novels.
“He visited Egypt for at least two months every year, usually in the winter, to make his presence known,” said el-Badri, adding that he followed Egyptian literary works very closely, which empowered Egyptian writers, and deepened their feelings of respect and admiration for Salih.


Clic here to read the story from its source.