Abdallah Zrika
Encyclopedia
Abdallah Zrika (born 1953 in Casablanca
) is one of the most famous poet
s of Morocco
. His poetry is free, based on spoken language and unrivalled in contemporary Arabic literature
in its spontaneity.
Zrika grew up in the poor neighbourhood Ben Msik. At the age of twelve he wrote his first poems. In 1977, he published "Dance of the head and the rose". For the Moroccan youth, he represents the ideal of poetry, of freedom of living and expressing yourself. Because of censorship Zrika spent two years in jail. Six of his poems were deemed morally dangerous. In 1978, he obtained a degree in sociology
. Besides a poet, Zrika is also a playwright
.
(published by Le Fennec in Casablanca)
His poems have also been published in magazins like: Esprit, Autrement, Refuge, Le croquant, Petite, and RMM.
He worked on plays with Louis Sclavis, Luigi Cinqui, writing "He is like the theater".
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
) is one of the most famous poet
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
s of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. His poetry is free, based on spoken language and unrivalled in contemporary Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
in its spontaneity.
Zrika grew up in the poor neighbourhood Ben Msik. At the age of twelve he wrote his first poems. In 1977, he published "Dance of the head and the rose". For the Moroccan youth, he represents the ideal of poetry, of freedom of living and expressing yourself. Because of censorship Zrika spent two years in jail. Six of his poems were deemed morally dangerous. In 1978, he obtained a degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. Besides a poet, Zrika is also a playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
Works translated from Arabic into French
- Rires de l’arbre à palabre, poésie, L’Harmattan, Paris, 1982.
- Bougies noires, La Différence, Paris, 1998.
- Petites proses, L’Escampette, Bordeaux, 1998.
- Échelles de la métaphysique, L’Escampette, Bordeaux, 2000.
- La colombe du texte, CIPM, Spectres Familiers, Marseille, 2003.
Novels in Arabic
- المراه مع فرسين (The woman with the two horses)
- مقبره السعاده (Graveyard of Happiness)
(published by Le Fennec in Casablanca)
His poems have also been published in magazins like: Esprit, Autrement, Refuge, Le croquant, Petite, and RMM.
He worked on plays with Louis Sclavis, Luigi Cinqui, writing "He is like the theater".
External links
- University of Kwazulu-Natal, Centre for creative arts, African Poetry http://www.ukzn.ac.za/cca/PoetryAfrica2003bios6.html
- cipM Centre international de poésie Marseille, with a reading of "drops of black candles" by the author (in Arabic) http://www.cipmarseille.com/auteur_fiche.php?id=6