Nazik Al-Malaika
Encyclopedia
Nazik Al-Malaika , Al-Malaika in English: Angels , she was an Iraq
i female poet
and is considered by many to be one of most influential contemporary Iraqi female poets.
Al-Malaika is famous as the first Arabic poet to use free verse
.
to a cultured family. Her mother was also a poet, and her father was a teacher. She wrote her first poem at the age of 10. Al-Malaika graduated in 1944 from the College of Arts in Baghdad and later completed a Master's degree in comparative literature
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
with a Degree of Excellence. She entered the Institute of Fine Arts and graduated from the Department of Music in 1949. In 1959 she earned a Master of Arts
in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin in the U.S., and she was appointed professor at Baghdad University, the University of Basra, and Kuwait University
.
and family following the rise of the Baath Party
to power. She lived in Kuwait
until Saddam Hussein
invaded that country in 1990. Al-Malaika and her family left for Cairo
where she lived for the rest of her life. Towards the end of her life, Al-Malaika suffered from a number of health issues including Parkinson's disease
.
She died in Cairo, Egypt
in 2007 at the age of 83.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i female poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and is considered by many to be one of most influential contemporary Iraqi female poets.
Al-Malaika is famous as the first Arabic poet to use free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
.
Early life and career
Al-Malaika was born in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
to a cultured family. Her mother was also a poet, and her father was a teacher. She wrote her first poem at the age of 10. Al-Malaika graduated in 1944 from the College of Arts in Baghdad and later completed a Master's degree in comparative literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
with a Degree of Excellence. She entered the Institute of Fine Arts and graduated from the Department of Music in 1949. In 1959 she earned a Master of Arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin in the U.S., and she was appointed professor at Baghdad University, the University of Basra, and Kuwait University
Kuwait University
Kuwait University was established in October 1966, five years after Kuwait's independence from British Colonization. KU started with only two faculties, namely the Faculty of Science, Arts and Education; and a Women's College. The university had 418 students enrolled and 31 faculty members. By ,...
.
Poet and teacher
Al-Malaika published several books of poems:- her first book of poetry "Ashiqat al-Layl" ("Night's Lover(female)") after her graduation.
- She wrote "al-kolera" (Cholera) poem which considered by critics as a revolution in the Arabic poem in 1947.
- "Shazaya wa Ramad" ("Sparks and Ashes") followed in 1949.
- She published "Qararat al-Mawja" ("Bottom of the Wave") in 1957.
- her final volume "shagrt al-qamar" ("Tree of the Moon") being published in 1968.
- "wa yu3'ayer alwano albahr" ("And the sea change his color") in 1970 .
- Al-Malaika taught at a number of schools and universities, most notably at the University of MosulUniversity of MosulThe University of Mosul is a public university located in Mosul, Iraq. It is one of the largest educational and research centers in the Middle East.- Academic program :...
.
Leaving Iraq
Al-Malaika left Iraq in 1970 with her husband Abdel Hadi MahboobaAbdel Hadi Mahbooba
Abdel Hadi Mahbooba was an Iraqi academic. He was the president of University of Basrah from 1964 to 1968. He was married to the Iraqi poet Nazik Al-Malaika.-References:...
and family following the rise of the Baath Party
Baath Party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party was a political party mixing Arab nationalist and Arab socialist interests, opposed to Western imperialism, and calling for the renaissance or resurrection and unification of the Arab world into a single state. Ba'ath is also spelled Ba'th or Baath and means...
to power. She lived in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
until Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
invaded that country in 1990. Al-Malaika and her family left for Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
where she lived for the rest of her life. Towards the end of her life, Al-Malaika suffered from a number of health issues including Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
She died in Cairo, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 2007 at the age of 83.