| Moroccan literature |
|---|
| Moroccan writers |
| Forms |
| Criticism and awards |
| See also |
Mohamed Zafzaf (Arabic:محمد زفزاف; 1945 – 13 July 2001) was a Moroccan Arabic-language novelist and poet.[1] He played a pivotal role in the development ofMoroccan literature in the second half of the 20th century and, due to his contributions, came to be known by such titles as "the godfather of Moroccan literature", "the Moroccan Tolstoy", "the Moroccan Dostoyevsky" and as "our great author" among his Moroccan peers.[2][3]
Mohamed Zafzaf, or Zefzaf, was born inSouk Larbaa El Gharb. He experienced hardship in his early life, his father having died when he was only five years old. He studied philosophy at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences atMohammed V University in the Moroccan capital,Rabat, and after graduation began working as an Arabic teacher in ajunior high school inKenitra, later on working as a librarian at the school library. He later left this job and moved toCasablanca, where he began to live abohemian lifestyle and work as an author. There he became friendly with fellow Moroccan authorsDriss El Khouri andMohamed Choukri.[4]
Zafzaf began his literary career in the 1960s as a poet, publishing his first poem in 1962. His field of work soon began to expand to short stories and novels as well, his first short story being published in 1963. Zafzaf had his early short stories published in important Middle Easternliterary magazines, in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt, which gained him a reputation as a writer across the widerArab region. Zafzaf joined theWriters' Union of Morocco in July 1968 and began publishing his own independent works in the early 70s. In 1970 he published his first collection of short stories and in 1972 his first novel, which was critically acclaimed by Arab literary critics.
When his novelThe Woman and the Rose was translated into Spanish, KingJuan Carlos I sent him a congratulations letter. Mohamed Zafzaf kept this letter on the wall of his house.
Zafzaf was known for hisbohemian style, and his ever-present long hair and grown beard earned him the title of the "Moroccan Dostoyevsky". He was a vocal supporter of thePalestinian cause and could often be seen wearing a Palestinian-styleKuffiya.[5]
He died in July 2001 at the age of 58 after a battle with cancer.
The prestigiousMohamed Zafzaf Prize for Arabic Literature was named in his honor. Since 2002, it is awarded once every three years at the International Cultural Festival inAsilah to authors of Arabic literature from around the Arab world who exhibit innovation in their literary work.
