03-November-2024

Demise Of Two Literary Giants

Demise Of Two Literary Giants

L: Mohammad Taha Algadal, Eisa Alhilu

 KHARTOUM (Sudanow)  - Sudanese literary movement was shocked Monday at the departure of two of the nation’s shining literary figures, poet Mohammad Taha Algaddal and Novelist, literary critic, Eisa Alhilu

News reports incoming from Doha, Qatar said Gaddal could not make it out from a formidable disease that first took him for medication in Cairo, Egypt, and then to Doha. But it seems the die was cast, and poet Gaddal was announced dead late Sunday, aged 70.

A few hours later literary talent Eisa Alhilu was announced dead, aged 77.

The two men were shining stars in the Sudanese arts life, with the first (Gaddal) composing a lot of poetry in the defense of liberties and with a remarkable sympathy towards the deprived citizens.

The second man, Alhilu, had published several novels and short stories, beside an immense collection of articles on literary criticism.

Gaddal was known for his highly expressive verse, especially when he composed in the Sudanese colloquial Arabic, drawing touching images of the life of suffering lead by the downtrodden persons.

Gaddal was always impatient with dictatorial rule, often composing verse in the condemnation of despotic rule of both dictators Gaafar Nimeiry and Omar Albashir.
Gaddal, Mahjoub Shareef and Mohammad Alhassan Salim Hummaid had made what can be called a triad of resisting poetry against dictatorship, always expressing the voice and pulse of the people. 

Egypt’s outstanding poet Abdelrahman Alabanodi had once described Gaddal as “one of the greatest Arabic language poets.”

Gaddal was mourned in statements published and broadcast here by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the Minister of Culture and Information.  

Several of his friends, contemporaries and his colleagues in the media have written profound obituaries and eulogies about him.

Many of the social media outlets have carried black signs of mourning in grief for losing a poet who knew how to captivate the hearts of millions of Sudanese during a journey of creation that continued for decades. 

“We today mourn a figure in  Sudanese literature, the poet, the human being, Mohammad Taha Algdadal,” reads the Prime Minister’s obituary.

“We mourn the poet, whose words were a light that shone in the darkness of dictatorial rule for generations,” it said. 

Beside his talent with poetry, Gaddal was an excellent musical player, in particular with the lute. He was also a gifted plastic painter.

He was born in the village of Helaiwa (central Sudan) in December 1951. He first started studying medicine at the University of Khartoum and then abandoned medicine to study administration.

Novelist, story writer,  Eisa Alhlu was born the White Nile's City of Kostt in 1944 and graduated as an intermediate school teacher in 1971. But very soon he abandoned teaching to the press, where he gained wide fame as a literary critic, beside his daily routine of news writing and editing.

Hilu had published a lot of novels and short story collections. His first novel was Reesh Albabagha’a (The Parrot’s Feathers). His other novels include: The Fever of Chaos and Cohesion (1972), Good Morning, Beautiful Unseen Face.

His short story collections include The Illusion and  A green Rose For Mariam.

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