Mahmud Bayram el-Tunsi
Encyclopedia
Mahmud Bayram el-Tunsi was an Egyptian
poet who was exiled from Egypt by the British for his nationalist poetry.
Bayram el-Tunsi received his education at religious (Muslim
) schools. However, he learned the art of poetry by listening to oral presentations in the form known as zajal
. In 1919, the year of the first Egyptian revolution
, he began to publish his poetry in the journal Issues. These satirical ballads, based on the traditional zajal form, were critical of both the British occupation and the Egyptian monarchy, which was referred to as a puppet. This led to his exile from Egypt, which he spent in France
and Tunisia
. El-Tunsi returned to Egypt in 1938, where he continued to publish political poetry.
Bayram el-Tunsi coined the term Adab al-iscrif (the literature of rescue) to describe "the successful rejection of external threats, the reorientation and redistribution of power in society, and construction of a strong and independent nation."
In addition to zajal, of which Bayram el-Tunsi was considered a master, he was proficient with maqama
which he preferred in much of his later output. Among those who have been influenced by Bayram el-Tunsi were Salah Jahin
and Ahmed Fouad Negm
.
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
poet who was exiled from Egypt by the British for his nationalist poetry.
Bayram el-Tunsi received his education at religious (Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
) schools. However, he learned the art of poetry by listening to oral presentations in the form known as zajal
Zajal
Zajal is a traditional form of oral strophic poetry declaimed in a colloquial dialect with ancient roots in a number of Mediterranean cultures. The form is similar to Muwashshah. The origin of zajal is Al-Andalus...
. In 1919, the year of the first Egyptian revolution
Egyptian Revolution of 1919
The Egyptian Revolution of 1919 was a countrywide revolution against the British occupation of Egypt and Sudan. It was carried out by Egyptians and Sudanese from different walks of life in the wake of the British-ordered exile of revolutionary leader Saad Zaghlul, and other members of the Wafd...
, he began to publish his poetry in the journal Issues. These satirical ballads, based on the traditional zajal form, were critical of both the British occupation and the Egyptian monarchy, which was referred to as a puppet. This led to his exile from Egypt, which he spent in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. El-Tunsi returned to Egypt in 1938, where he continued to publish political poetry.
Bayram el-Tunsi coined the term Adab al-iscrif (the literature of rescue) to describe "the successful rejection of external threats, the reorientation and redistribution of power in society, and construction of a strong and independent nation."
In addition to zajal, of which Bayram el-Tunsi was considered a master, he was proficient with maqama
Maqama
Maqāma are an Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry in which rhetorical extravagance is conspicuous. The 10th century author Badī' al-Zaman al-Hamadhāni is said to have invented the form, which was extended by al-Hariri of Basra in the next century...
which he preferred in much of his later output. Among those who have been influenced by Bayram el-Tunsi were Salah Jahin
Salah Jahin
Mohammad Salah Eldin Bahgat Helmy , known as "Salah Jaheen" or "Salah Jahin" was a leading Egyptian poet, lyricist, playwright and cartoonist.-Life and career:...
and Ahmed Fouad Negm
Ahmed Fouad Negm
Ahmed Fouad Negm -Background:Ahmed Fouad Negm was born to a family of fellahin the Egyptian countryside. His mother, Hanem Morsi Negm, was a housewife, and his father Mohammed Ezat Negm, a police officer. Negm was one of seventeen brothers, only six of whom are still living...
.