Iraq honors a true master of language, Iraqi poet Nazik Al-Malaika

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – A celebration honoring the extraordinary Iraqi poet and pioneer of contemporary Arabic poetry, Nazik Al-Malaika, was held in Baghdad on Thursday. Along with a multitude of writers, academics, and literary heavyweights from Iraq and the Arab world, the celebration included participation from Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

A Baghdad native, Nazik Al-Malaika was a master of words, a weaver of emotions who possessed a unique ability to transform ordinary language into extraordinary works of art. Her transformative power of poetry has shaped and influenced the Arab world.

Al-Malaika pushed social boundaries, challenged literary norms with her acute sense of observation, finding inspiration and beauty from her boundless imagination. Her works have elevated modern poetry and produced enthralling images that signaled a significant intellectual advance.

To honor poet Nazik Al-Malaika, a statue will be made by an Iraqi artist. “This remarkable sculpture will be placed in one of Baghdad’s vibrant squares, serving as a timeless tribute to her extraordinary literary contributions,” said Al-Sudani during his speech in Baghdad.

According to Al-Sudani, the Postal Department of Iraq has prepared a unique postage stamp with a photo of Nazik Al-Malaika to honor the anniversary of her birth.

Born in 1923, Al-Malaika completed her undergraduate studies at the Baghdad College of Arts before going on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her MA in comparative literature.

The Nights Lover (1945), The Cholera (1947), Shrapnel and Ashes (1949), Bottom of the Wave (1957), Tree of the Moon (1968), and The sea changes its color (1977) are only a few of the poetry collections written by Al-Malaika. Additionally, she was a professor at various universities, including the University of Baghdad, the University of Basra, the University of Mosul, and Kuwait University.

A cultural icon with an immense impact on Arabic literature, Iraq’s treasured poet died in Cairo in 2007 at the age of 83. Nazik Al-Malaika was a true visionary and an emotional alchemist whose artistic brilliance will live on in the hearts of all those she touched.