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BEIT EL HEKMA: The Star of Bagdad – Nazik al-Malai’ka
March 12, 2018 @ 1:30 pm UTC+0
Space of Culture Presents
BEIT EL HEKMA – Heliopolis University Productions
The Star of Bagdad – Nazik al-Malai’ka –
The Pioneer of Modern Arabic Lyrics
A Dedication to one of our greatest poets in the Arab world
A Poetry Salon
“What I have written will revolutionize the poetry of the entire Arab world“ (Nazik al-Malai’ka)
The story is telling her life and the very special moment in 1947 when Nazik al-Malai’ka (1923-2007) had a kind of a spiritual experience, which was the birth of the free verse that was later called “Modern Arabic Poetry”.
Together with Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab, they broke the rules of the “Quassida,” which was the common rhyme form until mid of the 19th century. Their influence on the young generation of poets was enormous.
In the beginning of the eighties, Nazik al-Malai’ka fell silent: “I fell silent because my soul could no longer express herself…” Since that time, she started inviting her friends, the poets and writers from all over the world for tea, talking to them – but this happened only in her imagination.
She died lonely in exile in Cairo in 2007. Her book “The Big Questions of Modern Poetry” is still known until today as an important source for understanding Modern Arabic Poetry.
Cast (in order of appearance):
Dorothea Walter
Marwa Samir
Maher Elhaggar
Students from Heliopolis University
Idea, Text Compilation and Directed by:
Dorothea Walter
Special thanks to Hassouna Mosbahi
Eurythmy-Ensemble Sekem/HU directed by: Martina Dinkel,
Speech: Esraa Magdy
Off Voices: Amira Badawy and Aliae Amer
Lightning: Tamer Elgazzar and Mohamed Abdel Mohsen
Acoustics: TOMAX Production
Visual Presentation and Technical Support: Ramy Ahmed