Mohammed Abed Elhai
Encyclopedia
Mohammed Abed Elhai Mahm'od (11 January 1944-23 August 1989) Arabic 'محمد عبد الحي is a well known member of the first generation of post-colonial Sudanese writers and academics. He is regarded as a pioneer of modern poetry in Sudan
.
on 11 January 1944. His father worked as a civil servant, a surveyor
, and due to the nature of his work he visited different regions of Sudan, like the Nuba Mountains
Region, El-Renk town in Upper Nile State, Blue Nile
regions, Wad Medani town, Korti
and Abu Hamad
in Northern State
.
Abed Elhai accompanied his father in his travels, giving him an understanding of the diverse and multiracial culture of Sudan
. This had a great influence later in his poetry, which focuses on the dilemma of identity in Sudan.
Mohammed Abed Elhai comes from a family with a history of writing poetry: His mother was Ezeiza Ismail Fouzi (b.1924), and her father was also a surveyor and wrote poetry, as did his son Saad.
His mother said about her son: since he was a child he was fond of reading, for example El-Sobiaan (The Kids), a Sudanese children's magazine, and other magazines from outside Sudan. He started writing poetry about life and nature at a young age. When his father discovered he was writing poetry, he stopped him, fearing it would lead Abed Elhai to fail in school.
Later his father let Mohmmed write after his friend Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, the Sudanese ambassador in Lebanon
at that time, told him that many Lebanese poets asked about Abed Elhai and his poetry. He became serious about poetry when he was in secondary school in Hentoob School, close to Wad Medani.
In 1963 Abed Elhai wrote his first poem to celebrate his sister's marriage. He also wrote and recited a poem about El-Gorashy
titled Areiss elmagged, or Groom of Glory. He recited this poem while El-Gorashy had been buried after Abed Elhai got a permission from his El-Gorashy's mother.
When he joined the university in 1962 he became a well known poet and he published in many Sudanese newspapers, like Al-Rayaam Newspaper on the page called El-jamaa'a or the university.
In 1963 he released one of his prominent and brilliant works, "Alawada alla Sennar", or "Return to Sennar
", which was first published in Al-Rayaam, then in Egypt's Mejalaat Elshe'r or Poetry Magazine, and in one of the Lebanese magazine. "Alawada alla Sennar" focuses on the Sudanese identity between Islam/Arab culture on one side and African on the other side, and uses the Kingdom of Sennar as a historical symbol and how it was founded by both culture Arab and African. He also used a heritage of sufiism and mythology in Kingdom of Sennar in his poetry, and gave Sennar the view or sense of Babylon
. "Alawada alla Sennar" is regarded by many critics today as a brilliant work of genius, because in addition to his literary value Abed elhai touches on the dilemma of identity in Sudan which currently lead to a mass conflict and ethnic clashes according to a point of view of many critics.
Mohammed Abed Elhai was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Khartoum University with honour degree second upper in 1967, then appointed a teaching assistant in the English department. He then got a scholarship and was sent to England, where he was awarded a Master of Arts in English literature
from Leeds University in 1970. Abed Elhai focused in his Masters research on Scottish
poet Edwin Muir
. Abed Elhai was awarded a PhD in English Literature
from Oxford University in 1973. His PhD focuses on the influence of American and English romantic thinking on Arabic poetry. He was a Lecturer in Khartoum University and he had worked in Khartoum University as head of the English Department, and also was head of the translation department. In early 1970s Abed Elhai collaborated with Yousif Ayd'aabi to edit the culture section in Sah'afa Newspaper, which later was abolished by the government. Abed Elhai Abed Elhai was head of the Cultural Corporation from 1976 until the early 1980s. He then returned to Khartoum University as a member of the Faculty of Arts, where he founded the Addab (Art) magazine, which was published by the University, and where he stayed until his death. Abed Elhai had two daughters, Shiraz and Reel, and two sons, Waddah and Mohammed Elmoatz. Mohammed Abed Elhai died on 23 August 1989 in Soba University Hospital, Khartoum.
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
Early life
Abed Elhai was born in KhartoumKhartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
on 11 January 1944. His father worked as a civil servant, a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, and due to the nature of his work he visited different regions of Sudan, like the Nuba Mountains
Nuba Mountains
Nuba Mountains is an area located in South Kordofan, Sudan. The area is home to a group of indigenous ethnic groups known collectively as the Nuba peoples. In the 18th century, Nuba Mountains became home to the kingdom of Taqali that controlled the hills of the mountains until their defeat by...
Region, El-Renk town in Upper Nile State, Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
regions, Wad Medani town, Korti
Korti
Korti or Kurti is a town in northern-central Sudan. In the Meroitic period there city appeared as Cadetum, Cadata or Coetum in Roman sources. The town lies about 250 kilometres from Khartoum, on the south side of the Nile....
and Abu Hamad
Abu Hamad
Abu Hamad , also spelt 'Abu Hamed') is a town of Sudan on the right bank of the Nile, 345 mi by rail north of Khartoum. It stands at the centre of the great S-shaped bend of the Nile, and from it the railway to Wadi Halfa strikes straight across the Nubian desert, a little west of the old...
in Northern State
Northern State
Northern State may refer to:*Northern State , a female rap group from New York City*The Northern State Parkway, a limited-access parkway located on Long Island*Northern, Sudan, one of 26 states in Sudan...
.
Abed Elhai accompanied his father in his travels, giving him an understanding of the diverse and multiracial culture of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. This had a great influence later in his poetry, which focuses on the dilemma of identity in Sudan.
Mohammed Abed Elhai comes from a family with a history of writing poetry: His mother was Ezeiza Ismail Fouzi (b.1924), and her father was also a surveyor and wrote poetry, as did his son Saad.
His mother said about her son: since he was a child he was fond of reading, for example El-Sobiaan (The Kids), a Sudanese children's magazine, and other magazines from outside Sudan. He started writing poetry about life and nature at a young age. When his father discovered he was writing poetry, he stopped him, fearing it would lead Abed Elhai to fail in school.
Later his father let Mohmmed write after his friend Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, the Sudanese ambassador in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
at that time, told him that many Lebanese poets asked about Abed Elhai and his poetry. He became serious about poetry when he was in secondary school in Hentoob School, close to Wad Medani.
Career
Abed Elhai initially studied medicine, but his interestes led him to change his area of study to art. Abed Elhai entered Khartoum University in 1962.In 1963 Abed Elhai wrote his first poem to celebrate his sister's marriage. He also wrote and recited a poem about El-Gorashy
El-Gorashy
El-Gorashy or Ahmed El-Gorashy Taaha Arabicاحمد القرشي طه, known also as El-shaheed El-Gorashy, born in El-Garrassa village close to El-Mannaqel town, Al Jazirah State of Sudan was a student in Khartoum University killed by police force in October 1964 at the time of a huge uprising which...
titled Areiss elmagged, or Groom of Glory. He recited this poem while El-Gorashy had been buried after Abed Elhai got a permission from his El-Gorashy's mother.
When he joined the university in 1962 he became a well known poet and he published in many Sudanese newspapers, like Al-Rayaam Newspaper on the page called El-jamaa'a or the university.
In 1963 he released one of his prominent and brilliant works, "Alawada alla Sennar", or "Return to Sennar
Sennar
Sennar is a town on the Blue Nile in Sudan and capital of the state of Sennar. For several centuries it was the capital of the Funj Kingdom of Sennar. It had an estimated population of 100,000 inhabitants in the early 19th century. The modern town lies 17km SSE of the ruins of the ancient capital...
", which was first published in Al-Rayaam, then in Egypt's Mejalaat Elshe'r or Poetry Magazine, and in one of the Lebanese magazine. "Alawada alla Sennar" focuses on the Sudanese identity between Islam/Arab culture on one side and African on the other side, and uses the Kingdom of Sennar as a historical symbol and how it was founded by both culture Arab and African. He also used a heritage of sufiism and mythology in Kingdom of Sennar in his poetry, and gave Sennar the view or sense of Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
. "Alawada alla Sennar" is regarded by many critics today as a brilliant work of genius, because in addition to his literary value Abed elhai touches on the dilemma of identity in Sudan which currently lead to a mass conflict and ethnic clashes according to a point of view of many critics.
Mohammed Abed Elhai was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Khartoum University with honour degree second upper in 1967, then appointed a teaching assistant in the English department. He then got a scholarship and was sent to England, where he was awarded a Master of Arts in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from Leeds University in 1970. Abed Elhai focused in his Masters research on Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
poet Edwin Muir
Edwin Muir
Edwin Muir was an Orcadian poet, novelist and translator born on a farm in Deerness on the Orkney Islands. He was remembered for his deeply felt and vivid poetry in plain language with few stylistic preoccupations....
. Abed Elhai was awarded a PhD in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from Oxford University in 1973. His PhD focuses on the influence of American and English romantic thinking on Arabic poetry. He was a Lecturer in Khartoum University and he had worked in Khartoum University as head of the English Department, and also was head of the translation department. In early 1970s Abed Elhai collaborated with Yousif Ayd'aabi to edit the culture section in Sah'afa Newspaper, which later was abolished by the government. Abed Elhai Abed Elhai was head of the Cultural Corporation from 1976 until the early 1980s. He then returned to Khartoum University as a member of the Faculty of Arts, where he founded the Addab (Art) magazine, which was published by the University, and where he stayed until his death. Abed Elhai had two daughters, Shiraz and Reel, and two sons, Waddah and Mohammed Elmoatz. Mohammed Abed Elhai died on 23 August 1989 in Soba University Hospital, Khartoum.