Saturday 2 April 2011

Literature and the Future of North Africa

The Qantara Muslim world news website carried a feature article on Jewish Moroccan writer Edmond Amran El Maleh (1917-2010). Last year the anti-colonial freedom fighter and patriot had been laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery of his native Essouira. He was taken there in a coffin draped with the Moroccan flag by the royal advisor André Azoulay, the historian Hassan Aourid, the director of the National Library Driss Khrouz and artists Hassan Bourkia and André El Baz. Not a state funeral, but almost...
He had specifically requested to be buried there among "all these graves which, exposed to the rank growth, the wind, and the ravages of the ocean, silently enclose the Hebrew inscriptions and mysterious symbols." And indeed it is surprising to see the emblem of the Punic goddess on the weather-beaten columns, an indication that Jews have lived in Morocco since the days of Nebuchadnezzar, when they escaped Babylonian captivity on Phœnician merchant ships. El Maleh's headstone merely adds to the linguistic confusion. He insisted on having four scripts: Arabic, Berber, Hebrew and French. It was a reflection of his attitude to life and his sense of belonging, an attitude that rejects any insistence that identities have to be one-dimensional
Described as a 'thorny humanist and lateral thinker, critic of Zionism and supporter of the Palestinians', it should also be noted that El Maleh was highly respected in the new Morocco for the fact that he, a French assimilated Jew, never denied his Arab-Berber roots'.He came relatively late to literature and his depictions of a 'multi-layered, multi-faceted, multi-voiced Morocco' betray influences of other cosmopolitan writers such as Elias Canetti and Walter Benjamin, as well as Kafka and Proust. In fact, El Maleh saw 'himself as a thief of stories and a protector of words', unexpectedly weaving 'words and phrases from Jewish-Arabic, Berber, English, and Spanish into his work'.
Edmond Amran El Maleh (1917-2010)
 Characterizing El Maleh's linguistic style through which he tried to remain true to Morocco's plural identity, the Spanish author Juan Goytisolo is said have likened his the influence of the Moroccan dialect to 'a tattoo on the skin of the French used by this author, this Nestor, this great outsider on the fringes of Franco-Moroccan literary scene, an author who remains to be discovered outside Morocco'.

In neighbouring-Algeria, novelist Maïssa Bey, who has written extensively on her country's turmoil of the last few decades, insists on dealing honestly with uncomfortable truths of the past:
Without an honest reappraisal of the past there can be no democratising process in society or in the political structures. "We will never achieve anything in Algeria until we get the truth out into the open and begin acknowledging facts," [...] This is something that has to involve everyone: victims, perpetrators, those politically responsible for the violence and the authorities who have imposed a total blackout on the lives of hundreds of thousands of families".
Although many are clamouring for change, she also notes that despite serious social injustice and corruption many Algerians prefer the fragile stability represented by President Bouteflika.
There is, of course, fear that a revolution could again end in chaos and violence [...] I have heard many people from my own neighbourhood talking like this. But I believe that Algeria has learned from the experiences of the 80s and 90s. The Algerians now know that Islamism is not the answer. This is a realisation that puts us a stage ahead of other revolutions in the Arab world.
She is less than impressed with the attitude of Europe:
Maissa Bey
It is really bizarre that Europe is only now wakening up. I find this absolutely intolerable. As an Algerian citizen, I can tell you that we didn't need any Wikileaks to tell us what was going on. Everybody knew that the Arab leaders were illegally amassing large fortunes for themselves and allowing their people to suffer. How can it be that this Europe, that so prides itself on its ideals of human rights and liberty, kept so quiet for so long, and only opened its mouth after the people themselves had risen?
The Europeans are so sure that democracy is a civilising value that belongs essentially to Europe, Bey explains. "The Arabs, on the other hand, they are, allegedly, just tribal societies where people bite off one another's noses. We intellectuals expect nothing more from Europe. I think it is too late for that."
Read the full interview here.

Essaouira, cite heureuse (French Edition)Edmond Amran El Maleh: Cheminements d'une ecriture (Collection "Espaces litteraires") (French Edition)Mille ans, un jour: Roman (French Edition)Mille ans, un jourParcours immobile (Collection "Voix") (French Edition)Above All, Don't Look Back (CARAF Books: Caribbean and African Literature translated from the French)Above All, Don't Look Back (CARAF Books: Caribbean and African Literature translated from the French)Au commencement était la merCette fille laEntendez-vous...dans les montagnesDépartements et territoires d'outre-ciel : Hommage à Léopold Sédar Senghor poète et francophone

11 comments:

kumarfield29 said...

Computer networks are the basis of communication in IT. They are used in a huge variety of ways and can include many different types of network. A computer network is a set of computers that are connected together so that they can share information. The earliest examples of computer networks are from the 1960s, but they have come a long way in the half-century since then.

computer network

kumarfield29 said...

Computer networks are the basis of communication in IT. They are used in a huge variety of ways and can include many different types of network. A computer network is a set of computers that are connected together so that they can share information. The earliest examples of computer networks are from the 1960s, but they have come a long way in the half-century since then.

computer network

Sophia Smith said...

Dear admin, Hope you are well. It’s really a helpful and stunning piece of info. I am glad that you simply shared this very best of best topic information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing and keep it up dude. Assignment Help Australia -
Assignment Help in Melbourne -
auditing assignment

Goodtime said...

Thanks for sharing this useful and interesting information, checkout this auk post utme past questions download it can be useful to you. Keep on sending in more useful and amazing information on your blog

chocky said...

Thanks for sharing this with so much of detailed information, its much more to learn from your article. Keep sharing such good stuff.
myadornment
Adornment is a personal and tailored jewellery shopping experience for consumers, allowing the exploration of a range of affordable but luxurious brands all within one e-commerce marketplace

Sophia Grace said...

The new report by Expert Market Research titled, ‘Global Gelatine Market Report and Forecast 2021-2026’, gives an in-depth analysis of the global Gelatin market, assessing the market based on its segments like end use, raw material, and major regions. The report tracks the latest trends in the industry and studies their impact on the overall market. It also assesses the market dynamics, covering the key demand and price indicators, along with analysing the market based on the SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces models.

Jessica Lucas said...

The new report by Expert Market Research titled, ‘Global Oilfield Chemicals Market Report and Forecast 2022-2027’, gives an in-depth analysis of the global Oilfield Chemicals Market, assessing the market based on its segments like products, growth, applications, locations and major regions. The report tracks the latest trends in the industry and studies their impact on the overall market. The rising demand for oilfield chemicals can be attributed to the increase in exploration and oil production operations, buttressed by the efforts of government particularly in developing countries. For instance, oil and gas companies in India, like Petronet LNG, Indian Oil Co., ONGC announced expansion plans in the domestic gas & oil industry in February 2021 to accommodate the global consumer demand. The major players in the market are Halliburton Company, Kraton Corporation, Solvay SA, BASF SE, Clariant International Ltd., NuGenTec LLC, among others.

zarkazijar said...

They have a high-quality weblog-jogging procedure. I without a doubt admire it.
nigeria custom service past questions  Visit Best Rated Educational Update Portal in the World; Examination and Academic Guide, High Paying Jobs & Scholarship Websites.

hastenchemical said...

Refrigerated Transport – Texas is a vital link in the supply chain, providing temperature-controlled shipping solutions for a wide range of perishable goods, ensuring their freshness and quality from origin to destination. It plays a crucial role in supporting industries such as agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals across the state.

Charbonnel said...

Explore a world of chocolate online in Jeddah, where a virtual treasure trove of cocoa delights awaits, ready to be savored and enjoyed with the convenience of a click.

global cfs said...

Literature bridges cultures, much like tile leveling spacers connect tiles seamlessly. Edmond Amran El Maleh's legacy, a tapestry of Moroccan identity, reminds us that stories transcend borders, enriching the future of North Africa.