Who is Ahmed Fouad Negm?
Ahmed Fouad Negm was a renowned Egyptian poet known for his impactful poetry written in colloquial Egyptian Arabic during the 1970s and 1980s, characterized predominantly by its political and revolutionary themes. Here is a brief overview of his life:
| Full Name | Ahmed Fouad Negm |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Date of Birth | May 23, 1929 |
| Place of Birth | Sharqia Governorate, Egypt |
| Date of Death | December 3, 2013 |
| Field of Fame | Poetry |
Birth and Early Life of Ahmed Fouad Negm
Ahmed Fouad Negm was born in the village of Kafr Abu Negm in the Sharqia Governorate. As was customary at the time, he attended a local Kuttab (religious school) to learn reading and writing. However, following the death of his father, Mohamed Ezzat, a police officer, he was compelled to move to an orphanage in Cairo.
Upon leaving the orphanage, Negm joined the British Army camps, where he became increasingly involved in political activities. He participated in the protests of 1951 that demanded the annulment of the 1936 Treaty. A pivotal moment in his life occurred when he was imprisoned in the late 1950s, where he met several political prisoners who significantly influenced his political awareness. During his time in prison, Negm wrote his first poetry collection titled “Images of Life and Prison.”
Ahmed Fouad Negm’s Poetic Beginnings
Negm’s significant breakthrough came in 1962 when he met Egyptian composer and singer Sheikh Imam. Together, they formed a successful artistic duo, with their first collaboration being the song “I Repent from Loving You.” This partnership led to numerous songs, greatly enhancing their popularity. Notably, Egyptian radio at the time dedicated a program titled “With the Melodies of Sheikh Imam” to showcase their joint works.
Awards and Recognitions Received by Ahmed Fouad Negm
- In 2007, the United Nations appointed him as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor.
- In 2013, he was awarded the Prince Claus Award in the Netherlands.
- Posthumously in 2013, the Egyptian government awarded him the First Class Medal of Arts and Sciences.
Notable Poems and Works by Ahmed Fouad Negm
Some of his most significant works include:
- My People Live
- Nobel Prize
- Morality
- The American Foreigner
- Hide and Seek
- Trapped Words
- Who Are They and Who Are We
- The Thing
- Crossword
- The Calculation of Barma
- The Dog of the Lady
- Nixon Has Come
- Pablo Neruda
- Prison Ticket
- Spots
- The Revolutionary Light
- Treachery
- ABCD (Saigon)
- A Paper… from the Case File
- Build Your Palaces
- Imagine My Dreams Would be
Ahmed Fouad Negm’s Personal Life
Ahmed Fouad Negm was married five times. His first marriage was to Fatma Mansour, which resulted in a daughter named Afaf. He then married actress Azza Bilbal, followed by writer Safinaz Kazem, who bore him a daughter named Nawara. His fourth marriage was to Algerian actress Sonia Mikiu, concluding with his marriage to Omima Abdel Wahab, who gave birth to his youngest daughter, Zainab.
The Demise of Ahmed Fouad Negm
Ahmed Fouad Negm passed away on December 3, 2013, at the age of 84. His death occurred shortly after returning from Amman, Jordan, where he had performed his last poetry session in honor of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Notably, Negm was a steadfast advocate for the Palestinian cause, demonstrated through his poignant poetry on the subject, including works like “Oh Palestinian” and “Tal al-Zaatar.” Following his death, the Egyptian government honored him posthumously with the First Class Medal of Arts and Sciences.