Nizar kabbani biography

Nizar Qabbani was a Syrian-born poet, lawyer and diplomat who lived for much of his life outside of the middle east where he was able to express himself with a great deal more freedom than would have been allowed in his homeland.

His works often addressed issues such as the repression of women, Arab identity, and the political turmoil in the Middle East. His work was often seen as a homage to womanhood and he campaigned staunchly for their equal rights. Qabbani's later poems included a strong strain of anti-authoritarianism. He wrote about the experiences of Arab women, addressing topics such as love, sexuality, and oppression, and sought to challenge traditional societal norms through his work.

His bold and critical stance made him a controversial figure, celebrated and criticized in equal measure.

Legacy and Influence

Qabbani is considered one of the most influential and beloved poets in the Arab world. He was outspoken about issues such as the Palestinian cause, Arab unity, and the failures of Arab regimes. His works have been translated into numerous languages, and his poems have been set to music by renowned Arab composers and singers.

Later Years and Death

In his later years, Qabbani lived in exile, primarily in London, where he continued to write and publish poetry.

In his poem Balqees he openly blamed the entire Arab world for her death. He established the Arab Cultural Publishing House in Beirut, Lebanon, which published many of the works of Arab authors and intellectuals. He later married Balqis al-Rawi, an Iraqi schoolteacher. He earned a reputation for daring with the publication in 1954 of his first volume of verse, "Childhood of a Breast," whose erotic and romantic themes broke from the conservative traditions of Arab literature.

It drew widespread multi-party criticism as it was not the done thing for an Arab to criticise other Arabs in such a public way. His first wife, Zahra Akbik, with whom he had two children, died in 1962. The son of a middle class merchant father he was able to attend good schools and he went on to gain a law degree from the university in his home town.

He became much more interested in Arab causes after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. His writing became more hard edged as he went on and he wrote poems openly criticising countries that he saw were run by dictators.

This was shortly after his second wife had been killed by a guerrilla bomb in Beirut and this had a profound effect on Qabbani. His legacy as a poet and a social critic continues to inspire readers across generations and geographies.

Sources:

Nizar Qabbani, “A Cup of Wine.”
Nizar Qabbani, “The Wine of Passion.”
Nizar Qabbani, “Bashar and the Grapes.”
“Nizar Qabbani: A Life in Poetry.” Arabic Literature (in English), March 4, 2017.
“Nizar Qabbani: The Poet of Love and Political Resistance.” Al Jazeera, April 30, 2018.

Qabbani was a committed Arab nationalist and in recent years his poetry and other writings, including essays and journalism, had become more political. From his early life in Damascus to his revolutionary poetry that challenged social norms and political oppression, discover how Qabbani became a voice for love, freedom, and change.