Farouk Shousha
Encyclopedia
Farouk Shousha is an Egyptian
poet
. He hosted the popular television program Umsiya Thaqafiya ("Cultural Evening") from 1977 through 2006.
Shousha was born in Damietta
, where he attended kuttab
. He credits the kuttab with providing him "a strong foundation of language". When a cholera
epidemic led to his confinement at home, Shousha read poetry to pass the time. Afterwards, he began a programmatic reading of Arabic poetry at the local library, where he read everything from the pre-Islamic period through contemporary poets. Of the Damietta library, Shousha says, "It was there that my first poems were born."
Shousha attended Dar al-Ulum
, where he became known as the Students' Poet. After graduation, he began working as a radio presenter. Eventually, he rose to be Director of Egyptian Radio
. Later, Shousha entered the field of television. Throughout his media career, Shousha has been associated with cultural and literary programs.
In 2005, Shousha was named Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy
, a body described by Al-Ahram Weekly
as "the guardians of the language". In his role as Secretary-General, Shousha has been critical of what he considers to be a decline in the quality of Arabic
in Egypt, a problem he attributes to radio and television announcers, poor teaching standards, and the lack of libraries in schools. Shousha has described the problem as "an issue of national security".
The first volume of Shousha's Collected Poems was published in 1985, and the second volume in 2007. Concerning the volumes' publication, Shousha remarked, "I am happy to be honoured during my lifetime, not, as is the case with so many intellectuals, long after I die."
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
poet
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. He hosted the popular television program Umsiya Thaqafiya ("Cultural Evening") from 1977 through 2006.
Shousha was born in Damietta
Damietta
Damietta , also known as Damiata, or Domyat, is a port and the capital of the Damietta Governorate in Egypt. It is located at the intersection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile, about north of Cairo.-History:...
, where he attended kuttab
Maktab
Maktab , also called kuttab , is an Arabic word meaning elementary schools...
. He credits the kuttab with providing him "a strong foundation of language". When a cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic led to his confinement at home, Shousha read poetry to pass the time. Afterwards, he began a programmatic reading of Arabic poetry at the local library, where he read everything from the pre-Islamic period through contemporary poets. Of the Damietta library, Shousha says, "It was there that my first poems were born."
Shousha attended Dar al-Ulum
Dar al-Ulum
The Egyptian Dar al-Ulum is an educational institution designed to produce students with both an Islamic and modern secondary education. It began as a means to introduce those in mosque colleges to new knowledge emanating from the West...
, where he became known as the Students' Poet. After graduation, he began working as a radio presenter. Eventually, he rose to be Director of Egyptian Radio
ERTU
The Egyptian Radio and Television Union , Ittihād al-Idhā‘ah wal-Tilīfizyūn al-Miṣrī), is the public broadcaster of Egypt, operated by the Egyptian government...
. Later, Shousha entered the field of television. Throughout his media career, Shousha has been associated with cultural and literary programs.
In 2005, Shousha was named Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy
Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo
The Academy of the Arabic Language is an academy in Cairo founded in 1934 in order to develop and regulate the Arabic language in The Republic of Egypt.- External links :*...
, a body described by Al-Ahram Weekly
Al-Ahram Weekly
Al-Ahram Weekly is an Egyptian English-language weekly broadsheet printed by the Al-Ahram Publishing House in Cairo, Egypt.It was established in 1991 by the Al-Ahram newspaper, which also runs a French-language weekly version, Al-Ahram Hebdo....
as "the guardians of the language". In his role as Secretary-General, Shousha has been critical of what he considers to be a decline in the quality of Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
in Egypt, a problem he attributes to radio and television announcers, poor teaching standards, and the lack of libraries in schools. Shousha has described the problem as "an issue of national security".
The first volume of Shousha's Collected Poems was published in 1985, and the second volume in 2007. Concerning the volumes' publication, Shousha remarked, "I am happy to be honoured during my lifetime, not, as is the case with so many intellectuals, long after I die."
Selected awards
Shousha has won the following honors, among others:- State Encouraging Award for Poetry (1986)
- Kfafis International Prize for Poetry (1994)
- Saudi Yemani Prize for Poetry (1994)
- State Evaluating Prize for Literature (1997)