Mohamed Zafzaf
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Mohamed Zafzaf (
Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
: ; 1945 – 13 July 2001) was a prominent Arabic-language novelist and poet in 20th century Morocco. He played a pivotal role in the development of
Moroccan literature Moroccan literature is the literature produced by people who lived in or were culturally connected to Morocco and the historical states that have existed partially or entirely within the geographical area that is now Morocco. Apart from the vario ...
in the second half of the 20th century and, due to his contributions, came to be known by such titles as "the godfather of Moroccan literature", "the Moroccan Tolstoy", "the Moroccan Dostoyevsky" and as "our great author" among his Moroccan peers.


Biography

Mohamed Zafzaf, or Zefzaf, was born in Souk Larbaa El Gharb. He experienced hardship in his early life, his father having died when he was only five years old. He studied philosophy at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences at
Mohammed V University Mohammed V University (, french: Université Mohammed-V de Rabat), in Rabat, Morocco, was founded in 1957 under a royal decree ( Dahir). It is the first modern university in Morocco after the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez. History The uni ...
in the Moroccan capital,
Rabat Rabat (, also , ; ar, الرِّبَاط, er-Ribât; ber, ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ, ṛṛbaṭ) is the capital city of Morocco and the country's seventh largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan populati ...
, and after graduation began working as an Arabic teacher in a
junior high school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school ...
in
Kenitra Kenitra ( ar, القُنَيْطَرَة, , , ; ber, ⵇⵏⵉⵟⵔⴰ, Qniṭra; french: Kénitra) is a city in north western Morocco, formerly known as Port Lyautey from 1932 to 1956. It is a port on the Sebou River, Sebou river, has a popul ...
, later on working as a librarian at the school library. He later left this job and moved to
Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
, where he began to live a
bohemian lifestyle Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people and with few permanent ties. It involves musical, artistic, literary, or spiritual pursuits. In this context, bohemians may be wanderers, a ...
and work as an author. There he became friendly with fellow Moroccan authors
Driss El Khouri Driss El Khouri (1939 – 14 February 2022) was a Moroccan novelist who was one of the most acclaimed in the country. Life and career El Khouri's books convey strongly the feel of everyday Moroccan life in coffee shops and other urban settings ...
and
Mohamed Choukri Mohamed Choukri (Arabic: محمد شكري, Berber languages, Berber: ⵎⵓⵃⴰⵎⵎⴻⴷ ⵛⵓⴽⵔⵉ) (15 July 193515November 2003, was a Moroccan author and novelist who is best known for his internationally acclaimed autobiography ''Fo ...
. Zafzaf began his literary career in the 1960s as a poet, publishing his first poem in 1962. His field of work soon began to expand to short stories and novels as well, his first short story being published in 1963. Zafzaf had his early short stories published in important Middle Eastern
literary magazines A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry, and essays, along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters ...
, in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt, which gained him a reputation as a writer across the wider
Arab region The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western As ...
. Zafzaf joined the Writers' Union of Morocco in July 1968 and began publishing his own independent works in the early 70s. In 1970 he published his first collection of short stories and in 1972 his first novel, which was critically acclaimed by Arab literary critics. When his novel ''The Woman and the Rose'' was translated into Spanish, King
Juan Carlos I Juan Carlos I (;, * ca, Joan Carles I, * gl, Xoán Carlos I, Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, born 5 January 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who reigned as King of Spain from 22 Novem ...
sent him a congratulations letter. Mohamed Zafzaf kept this letter on the wall of his house. Zafzaf was known for his
bohemian style The Bohemian style focuses on color, life, and culture as its main aspects, seeking to replicate the romani nomadic lifestyle. The word Bohemian comes from the French word "bohémien",meaning romani. A person living a "bohemian lifestyle" is t ...
, and his ever-present long hair and grown beard earned him the title of the "Moroccan Dostoyevsky". He was a vocal supporter of the
Palestinian cause Palestinian nationalism is the national movement of the Palestinian people that espouses self-determination and sovereignty over the region of Palestine.de Waart, 1994p. 223 Referencing Article 9 of ''The Palestinian National Charter of 1968' ...
and could often be seen wearing a Palestinian-style Kuffiya. He died in July 2001 at the age of 58 after a battle with cancer. The prestigious Mohamed Zafzaf Prize for Arabic Literature was named in his honor. Since 2002, it is awarded once every three years at the International Cultural Festival in
Asilah Asilah (; ar, أزيلا or أصيلة; pt, Arzila; es, Arcila) is a fortified town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, about south of Tangier. Its ramparts and gateworks remain fully intact. History The town's history da ...
to authors of Arabic literature from around the Arab world who exhibit innovation in their literary work.


Bibliography


Novels

* 1972: '' The Woman and the Rose'' (المرأة والوردة), Beirut. * 1974: ''Sidewalks and Walls'' (أرصفة وجدران), Baghdad. * 1978: ''Graves in the Water'' (قبور في الماء), Tunis. * 1979: ''The Snake and the Sea'' (الأفعى والبحر), Casablanca. * 1984: ''The Cockerel's Egg'' (بيضة الديك), Casablanca. * 1985: ''An Attempt at Life'' (محاولة عيش), Tunis. * 1989: ''The Fox who Appears and Vanishes'' (الثعلب الذي يظهر ويختفي), Casablanca. * 1992: ''The Rear Neighborhood'' (الحي الخلفي), Rabat. * 1993: ''The Wagon'' (العربة), Rabat. * 1998: ''Wide Mouths'' (أفواه واسعة), Casablanca.


Short stories collections

* 1970: ''A Conversation Late at Night'' (حوار في ليل متأخر), Damascus. * 1977: ''Low Houses'' (بيوت واطئة), Casablanca. * 1978: ''The Strongest'' (الأقوى), Damascus. * 1980: ''The Holy Tree'' (الشجرة المقدسة), Beirut. * 1982: ''Gypsies in the Forest'' (غجر في الغابة), Beirut. * 1988: ''King of the Jinns'' (ملك الجن), Casablanca. * 1988: ''White Angel'' (ملاك أبيض), Cairo.


Translated works

* 2013: ''Cuentos selectos de Mohamed Zefzaf''. Tangier. Translated by Adel Fartakh. * 2020: ''Tentative de vie''. Virgule, Tangier. Translated by Siham Bouhlal.


Works available in English

* 2014: ''Monarch of the Square: An Anthology of Muhammad Zafzaf’s Short Stories''. Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, New York. Translated by Roger Allen, Mbarek Sryfi. * 2016: ''The Elusive Fox''. Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, New York. Translated by Mbarek Sryfi.


References


External links

*"Death of the godfather" (obituary) in: ''Al-Ahram Weekly Online'', 19–25 July 2001, Issue No.54

(retrieved 28 September 2011)
Interview with Mohamed Zafzaf (in French)
*"Legacy of Moroccan Author Mohamed Zafzaf Lives on", ''Al-Quds Al Arabi'' 12 July 2005, ''Al Khaleej Al Arabi'' 03/05, ''Elaph'' 01/0

(retrieved 29 September 2011) *"Casablanca Chasms: The Bidonville in Muhammad Zafzaf’s Muhawalat Aysh," Portal 9, Issue #2, Spring 201

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zafzaf, Mohamed 1945 births 2001 deaths Moroccan novelists Moroccan male writers Male novelists Moroccan male short story writers Moroccan short story writers People from Souk El Arbaa 20th-century novelists 20th-century short story writers 20th-century male writers