Arif Khudairi

Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi Mahmoud, better known as Arif Khudairi, (born 30 May, 1948) is an Egyptian poet, novelist, folklorist, and translator.

Biography

Khudairi was born in Luxor and grew up in Aswan, a little town in the southern part of Egypt. In 1966 he attended the Faculty of Arts at the University of Cairo where he studied at the Department Of Arabic Language and Literature.

Having graduated with a degree in Arabic from Faculty of Art, University of Cairo in 1970, Khudairi worked as a school teacher for nine years. An M.A. degree in 1978 was followed by a spell of teaching in South Korea as well as lecturing and working as an interpreter for the Korean Broadcasting System in Seoul. In 1981 Khudairi left for the USA where he taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This was followed by three years in Malaysia. On his return to Egypt, he completed his PhD. dissertation on Al-Mutanabbi, generally recognized as the greatest classical Arab poet of the 10th century. In 1990 he left for Brunei Darussalam where he has taught Arabic literature at the Institute of Islamic Studies(1990-1999), the University of Brunei Darussalam (1999-2007),and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (2007-2013).

Writings

Khudairi wrote books of poems, fairy tales, literary translations, essays, and many other writings. He writes primarily in Arabic and English, frequently translating his works into both languages himself.(Rafizah Abdullah,Diwan Flimanku,2009,pp.63-71).

His poetry moves from alienation and longing, as in Dreams of the Wandering Bird, to the celebration of love and nature, as in Love Poems of Arif Khudairi (2011), to universal themes of love and divinity, as in Trees Leaves (1998), to peace and universal harmony, as in The Abode of Peace (2008), to Sufism and spirituality, as in Divine Lake (2013)(Ahmad Haggagi, Ahlam Al- Ta'ir Al- Jawwal,1995,pp.8-11, Jonathan Grimes, Trees Leaves, 1998, ppxi-xii, Hashim Awang, Abode of Peace, 2008, pp.vii-xii, Mahir Shafiq Farid, The Rubaiyat of Arif Khudairi,p.15).

His novella The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad (1999) is a symbolic narrative of good versus evil, altruism versus selfishness, of materialism versus spirituality.

In his Arabic tales collections, he rewrote stories that revolve around traditional Arabic folk tales and legends, linking ancient myth to the modern values and standards of the Arab people. His short stories deal with various themes. Luxor: The City of Hundred Gates (1982) is a semi-autobiographical story. The Philosopher (1983) is a story of Mat, a poor old man who reflects profound philosophical views about life. Departure (1984) is about unrequited love. Homecoming (1993), examines psychological observations recorded by an Arab immigrant returning to his native land. Night Flight (2000) is a comical story taking place in a small hospital. The Lazy (2001) presents a monologue of a middle-aged man. Born a Lover (2002), recounts confessions of a modern day Don Juan.

Khudairi is also a translator, and translated into Arabic eight Korean, Malaysian, Bruneian, Pakistani, English, and American books of poems. He wrote biographies of the poets such Kim So-wol (1984), Muhammad Iqbal (2004), and Shukri Zain (2006).

Works

Poetry

  • Layali Gharnatah (Granada Nights) (2013).
  • Divine Lake (2013).
  • Love Poems of Arif Khudairi (2011).
  • Ahlam Saghirah (Small Dreams) (2009).
  • The Abode of Peace (2008).
  • Rubaiyat of Arif Khudairi (2004).
  • Flimanku (Flamenco) (2005).
  • Ahlam Rabi‘iyyah (Springtime Dreams) (1991).
  • Ahlam Al Tair Al Jawwal (Dreams of the Wandering Bird) (1994).
  • Al Tajwal Fi Al Mawani Al Ba‘idah (Wandering in Far Away Harbors) (1999).
  • Trees Leaves, (1998).
  • Qasaid Hub (Love Poems) (1983).
  • At-Ta’ir Al-Jawwal (The Wandering Bird) (1984).
  • Impian Burung Kembara (Dreams of the Wandering Bird (1997).
  • Awraqul Shajar (Trees Leaves, (1999).

Story collections

  • Arabian Fairy Tales: The Goblin Wife and Other Stories (2011).
  • Qassas Al Anbiaa (Tales of the Prophets) (2008).
  • Tales of the Prophets (2008).
  • Tales from the Arabian Sahara: The Trip and Other Stories (1998).

Short stories

  • Luxor: The City of Hundred Gates (1982).
  • The Philosopher (1983).
  • Departure (1984).
  • Homecoming (1993).
  • Night Flight (2000).
  • The Lazy (2001).
  • Born a Lover (2002).

Novella

  • The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad (1999).

Academic works

  • Foreign Literature in Arabic: A Personal Experience, (2011).
  • The Arabs and the Art of Translation (2008).
  • Arabic: Selected Essays (1993).
  • Thoughts of the Times: Introduction to Arabic Literature (1983).

Literary translations

  • Qimat al- Waqt (Harka Waktu) (2011).
  • Famaza Na‘Mal Ba‘d Ya Aqwam Ash-Sharq (Then What Can We Do Now O Peoples of the East) (2004)
  • A Poet from Korea: Kim So-Wol (2000).
  • Korean Poems, (2000).
  • Lamsatu Salam (The Touch of Peace) (1993).
  • Tanfis (Manifestation) (1994).
  • Awraqush-Shajar (Trees Leaves) (1999).
  • Ayyam Al Asa (Days of Grief) (2013).

References

  • Abdullah, Rafizah (2009).Diwan Flimanku Lil Sha‘ir Arif Khudairi: Dirasah Faniah Naqdiah (Flamenco of Arif Khudairi: An Aesthetic and Critical Study), Maktabit Al Adab, Cairo, 260pp.
  • Al Maqrami, Abdel Ghani, “Qiraah Naqdiah Fi Diwan Al Tijwal Fi Al Mawani Al Ba'idah,” Al Gumhuriah newspaper, Sanaa, Yemen, Julay 29, 2010.
  • Badde, Karl, International Who’s Who in Translation and Terminology, Paris, 1995.
  • Ely, Howard, The International Who’s Who in Poetry, Owings Mills, MD,(USA), 2005.
  • Farid, Maher Shafiq (2007) “Ruba’iyat Arif Khudairi” in Tasu‘iyat Naqdiah, Cairo: Maktabil Al-Adab, pp.306-307.
  • Farid, Mahir Shafiq, “Arif Khudairi Sha‘ir Al-Mahjar Al-Asiawi” (Arif Khudairi: Poet of Asian Mahjar) Journal of Arabic Studies, issue No 9, 1998, pp.152-162.
  • Abukhudairi,Arif,Foreign Literature in Arabic:APersonal Experience,2011,IIUM.
  • Haggagi, Ahmad “Ahlam at-Tair Al-Jawwal,” (Dreams of the Wandering Bird), Ath-Thaqafa Al-Jadidh, August, 1995.pp.6-11.
  • Haggagi, Ahmad. Ahlam At-Tair Al-Jawwal Wa Nahdat Ash-Shi‘r Al-Mahjari (The Wandering Bird and The Development of Mahjar Poetry), Al-Ahram newspaper, Jan 27, 1995.
  • O’okwemba, Khainga. “Poet of the Nocturne with Arabic Serenades,” Friday 20 January 2012, the Star Newspaper, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Suliman, Noor Amalina (2011).Diwan Ahlam Rabi‘yyah Lil Sha‘ir Arif Khudairi: Dirasah Faniah Naqdiah (Springtime Dreams of Arif Khudairi: An Aesthetic and Critical Study), Maktabit Al Adab, Cairo, 280pp.

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