Cairo – Special
“بيت الشعر المصري” witnessed a unique night that transcended the limits of traditional honoring, where Arab creators gathered under the management of poet Samah Mahgoub, in a grand celebration that evoked the spirit of “the Poet of the Algerian Revolution” Mufdi Zakaria. The evening was not merely a remembrance of a departed poet, but a vibrant cultural event that embodied how poetry can be a homeland, and how words can break the chains of the jailer..
Under one roof, a select group of symbols of Arabic literature gathered to celebrate the legacy of “the Author of the Iliad” , led by the world-renowned novelist Waciny Laredj. The presence took on a national flavor with poets from various countries; from Algeria came Ibrahim Sadiqi, Amina Hazmoun, Faiza Qamqani, and Nasima Bou Salah, from Palestine came Al-Mutakil Taha, from Iraq came Hussein Al-Qasid, and from Morocco came Fadwa Ziani, in a scene that reflects the unity of the Arab sentiment towards liberation issues..
The attendees agreed that Mufdi Zakaria’s experience was a unique model of “the freedom fighter poet” who did not write poetry for mere artistic pleasure, but crafted it to be bullets that shake the thrones of colonialism, and a balm that heals the wounds of his bleeding homeland.. His poetry was a living translation of a people’s struggle, and a roaring voice that did not break in front of the machinery of oppression and torture..
The evening paused long at the historical epic of the anthem “Qasam” , which Zakaria did not write with pen ink, but engraved with his blood (literally) on the walls of his cell in “Barbarossa” prison. This anthem stands alone in the world as a revolutionary document carrying a clear threat to the French colonizer, remaining a witness to the poet’s faith in the inevitability of victory despite the darkness of the cell..
The celebration manifested the deep ties between Cairo and Algeria, as the attendees recalled the historic meeting between the genius of Mufdi Zakaria in crafting the text, and the genius of the late Egyptian musician Mohamed Fawzi who composed the immortal melody.. This artistic collaboration was not merely a creative work, but a symbol of the fateful bond between the two countries in the battle for freedom and dignity..
A Message of Loyalty from the Mufdi Zakaria Foundation
In an atmosphere filled with appreciation, poet Nasima Bou Salah conveyed a message laden with feelings of affection and gratitude from the Mufdi Zakaria Foundation, specifically from the poet’s son, Dr. Suleiman Al-Sheikh, the honorary president of the foundation and former ambassador of Algeria in Cairo.. The message expressed the pride of the foundation and all of Algeria in this honor that celebrates the symbolism of “the Poet of the Revolution” , affirming that this initiative is not strange to Egypt, “the beating heart of Arabism” , which has always been at the forefront in honoring the distinguished figures of the Arab nation and celebrating their struggle and literary legacy..
The message paused at “Egypt’s white hands” that have extended throughout history to support just causes, foremost among them the Algerian revolution.. Bou Salah pointed out that honoring Mufdi Zakaria in Cairo renews the reminder of that unique bond embodied in the national anthem “Qasam” ; while Zakaria crafted his words with his blood behind bars, the great Egyptian musician Mohamed Fawzi composed his immortal melody, bringing together Algerian and Egyptian genius in a single work that gifted generations a symbol of resistance and sovereignty, reflecting the depth of the sacrifices and honorable stances shared by the two peoples over time..