Saadi Simawe
Encyclopedia
Sa'adi Simawe is an Iraqi American
author, teacher and translator, has published many articles in English
and Arabic
, both original and in translation, and a novel (in Arabic) Al-Khuruj min al-Qumqum, London
1999. He is the editor of an anthology
of 40 writers, "Iraqi Poetry Today", published by Zephyr Press in 2003 and author of the work of cultural criticism, "Black Orpheus: Music in African American Fiction from the Harlem Renaissance to Toni Morrison", Garland 2000.
in Baghdad
. He graduated in June 1976 and left Iraq on a tourist visa; his mother paid a substantial fine, equivalent to approximately a year's income, when he did not return.
Simawe made his way via Paris
to North Africa
, where he taught Arabic and English in high schools in Libya
until 1980. He has made several return trips to North Africa to teach, write and do research.
Simawe obtained a student visa to the USA in 1980 and traveled from Tripoli
, Libya to Lincoln, Nebraska
, where he enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska. He received an MA in English from the University of Nebraska in 1983. The following fall he enrolled at the University of Iowa
in Iowa City. Simawe first completed an MA in African-American Literature, before going on to a PhD
in English, which he completed in 1994. Darwin Turner (1932–1991), the well-respected scholar of African American Studies, was Simawe's thesis advisor.
He joined the faculty of Grinnell College
in 1992, where he was an associate professor of English, teaching courses in African-American and Arabic literature. Simawe took a leave from teaching effective fall 2007 due to illness. He continues his writing and translation work and hopes to return to teaching.
As is frequently the case with Iraqi intellectuals of the most recent generation, he has been unable to return to Iraq since he first left in 1976, but for a brief two-week trip into the northern Kurdish
zone after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The travelers, sponsored by the Writers Union of Iraq, represented all of the ethnic entities of Iraq.
Iraqi American
Iraqi Americans are Americans of Iraqi descent, including those who are expatriates in exile or permanent immigrants. The number of Iraqi Americans is around 140,000 according to the Arab American Institute....
author, teacher and translator, has published many articles in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, both original and in translation, and a novel (in Arabic) Al-Khuruj min al-Qumqum, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
1999. He is the editor of an anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of 40 writers, "Iraqi Poetry Today", published by Zephyr Press in 2003 and author of the work of cultural criticism, "Black Orpheus: Music in African American Fiction from the Harlem Renaissance to Toni Morrison", Garland 2000.
Background
Simawe was born into a middle-class family in Diwaniyah, Iraq, in 1946. While a teenager, he was arrested, imprisoned, and beaten severely for publishing leaflets against the Ba'ath Party. After six years in prison, he was freed in a political amnesty and was allowed to return to school; he completed a BA degree in English at Al-Mustansiriya UniversityAl-Mustansiriya University
Al-Mustansiriya University is a university located in Baghdad, Iraq. It was established in 1227 by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir and is one of the oldest universities in the world. Formerly named Mustansiriya Madrasah, it was restructured as a modern university in 1927...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. He graduated in June 1976 and left Iraq on a tourist visa; his mother paid a substantial fine, equivalent to approximately a year's income, when he did not return.
Simawe made his way via Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, where he taught Arabic and English in high schools in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
until 1980. He has made several return trips to North Africa to teach, write and do research.
Simawe obtained a student visa to the USA in 1980 and traveled from Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, Libya to Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, where he enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska. He received an MA in English from the University of Nebraska in 1983. The following fall he enrolled at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in Iowa City. Simawe first completed an MA in African-American Literature, before going on to a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in English, which he completed in 1994. Darwin Turner (1932–1991), the well-respected scholar of African American Studies, was Simawe's thesis advisor.
He joined the faculty of Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
in 1992, where he was an associate professor of English, teaching courses in African-American and Arabic literature. Simawe took a leave from teaching effective fall 2007 due to illness. He continues his writing and translation work and hopes to return to teaching.
As is frequently the case with Iraqi intellectuals of the most recent generation, he has been unable to return to Iraq since he first left in 1976, but for a brief two-week trip into the northern Kurdish
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
zone after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The travelers, sponsored by the Writers Union of Iraq, represented all of the ethnic entities of Iraq.