Moufdi Zakaria
Encyclopedia
Moufdi Zakaria; was an Algeria
n poet and writer. He wrote "Kassaman
", the Algerian National anthem
whilst in prison in 1955.
region of Algeria.
His university education was in Tunis
where he met a number of poets including Aboul-Qacem Echebbi
. His first poetry was published in a Tunisian newspaper in 1925.
He became associated with Algerian nationalists and served time in prison for his beliefs in 1937 and 1938.
In 1956 he was imprisoned in Serkadji prison by the French for his politics. There he wrote a poem called Qassaman or The Pledge. It was said that he wrote the poem on the walls of his cell using his own blood. The poem was later set to music by Mohamed Triki in 1956 and then by Mohamed Fawzi
. The final song was heard in 1957. This poem became the Algerian national anthem shortly after 5 July 1962 when independence was achieved.
Zakaria died in 1977 in Tunisia but his body was buried in Algeria
.
, Algeria
is named in his honour.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n poet and writer. He wrote "Kassaman
Kassaman
Kassaman or Qassaman is the national anthem of Algeria. It was adopted in 1963, shortly after the Independence. The lyrics were written by Mufdi Zakariah in 1956 while imprisoned by the French colonial forces. He wrote the verses using his blood on the 69th cell walls. The composer of the music...
", the Algerian National anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
whilst in prison in 1955.
Biography
Cheikh Zakaria Ben Slimane Ben Yahia Ben Cheikh Slimane Ben Hadj Aissa was born on June 12, 1908. He was given the nickname of Moufdi by a school friend. He was born and attended school in the M'zabM'zab
The M'zab or Mzab, , is a region of the northern Sahara, in the Ghardaïa wilaya, an administrative division similar to a province, of Algeria...
region of Algeria.
His university education was in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
where he met a number of poets including Aboul-Qacem Echebbi
Aboul-Qacem Echebbi
Abou-Al-kacem El-chebbi was a Tunisian poet. He is probably best known for writing the final two verses of the current National Anthem of Tunisia, Humat al-Hima , that was written originally by the Egyptian poet Mustafa Sadik el-Rafii.Echebbi was born in Tozeur, Tunisia, on 24 February 1909, the...
. His first poetry was published in a Tunisian newspaper in 1925.
He became associated with Algerian nationalists and served time in prison for his beliefs in 1937 and 1938.
In 1956 he was imprisoned in Serkadji prison by the French for his politics. There he wrote a poem called Qassaman or The Pledge. It was said that he wrote the poem on the walls of his cell using his own blood. The poem was later set to music by Mohamed Triki in 1956 and then by Mohamed Fawzi
Mohamed Fawzi
Mohamed Fawzi , was an Egyptian composer and singer.-Career:Fawzi had a beautiful voice which was inherited from his father ; he began singing at weddings and other events when he was twelve years old...
. The final song was heard in 1957. This poem became the Algerian national anthem shortly after 5 July 1962 when independence was achieved.
Zakaria died in 1977 in Tunisia but his body was buried in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
.
Legacy
Zakaria left his poetry and the words to Algeria's national anthem. He has postage stamps issued in his honour and Noumérat – Moufdi Zakaria Airport in GhardaïaGhardaïa
Ghardaïa is the capital city of Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. The commune of Ghardaïa has a population of 104,645, with 82,500 in the main city according to 2005 estimates. It is located in northern-central Algeria in the Sahara Desert and lies along the left bank of the Wadi Mzab...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
is named in his honour.