How an Egyptian Prison Poem Came to Structure My Memoir
I wrote my memoir, Huna, in English, which is to say I wrote it inside a contradiction. Huna is a memoir of the Egyptian revolution, six years of political imprisonment in Egypt, and my US exile. It enters English already
My memoir, Huna, is a complex exploration of the Egyptian revolution, six years in political imprisonment, and my US exile. It weaves English, a language laden with the tensions of representing Arab experiences, with the ancient Egyptian prison tradition of 'anbara, a call-and-response poem recited across cell walls. This poetic structure, with its Arabic headers, frames the book and invites a reading that transcends language barriers.
The 'anbara serves as a bridge between the two languages, Arabic and English, embodying the dualities of translation, cultural identity, and political resistance. By incorporating the 'anbara, Huna becomes a testament to the power of language in forging connections, despite barriers.
Written by urgent.news from Literary Hub's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
