Kajal Ahmad

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Kajal Ahmad
کەژاڵ ئەحمەد
Kajal Ahmad (poet).jpg
Kajal Ahmad, Kurdish poet
Born
Kajal Ahmad

1967 (age 57–58)
Kirkuk, Iraq
Nationality Flag of Kurdistan.svg Kurdish
Occupations
Years active1986–present
Organization Flag of PUK.svg Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Known for Poetry and journalism
Notable work Handful of Salt (2016)
Television Dijebaw on Kurdsat
Website Kajal Ahmad Poetry Translation Centre

Kajal Ahmad (born 1967) is a contemporary Kurdish poet and journalist, known for the show Dijebaw on Kurdsat. She started writing poetry in 1987.

Contents

About

Ahmad was born in Kirkuk in 1967 of Kurdish ancestry. [1] She began writing poetry in 1986, and publishing it at the age of 21. [2] Her poems, are known for being "fierce" and "sensual", [3] and have gained a reputation for "brave, poignant and challenging work throughout the Kurdish-speaking world." [4] They have been translated into Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Norwegian and English. [4] The English-language Handful of Salt, a translated collection, was released in 2016 by Word Works. [5]

Kajal's lifestyle has been criticised by conservatives. She refuses to wear the veil and writes about a conservative culture that restricts women's life choices and the contradictions inherent in her homeland's cultural norms. Although men are attracted to her, they do not offer commitment, and women avoid her so that she feels isolated and lonely. [6]

In addition to writing poetry, she is a journalist and writes social commentary and analysis, particularly on women's issues and politics. [2] Ahmad was editor-in-chief of Knwe , the daily newspaper of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, for more than ten years[ when? ]. [1] She has also presented programs[ which? ] on Kurdsat. [1] Her writings demonstrate her commitment to preserving Kurdish culture, the liberation of Kurdistan and to gender equality. [7]

Along with a handful of female Kurdish poets and writers, including Najiba Ahmad (b. 1954), she is regarded as contributing to the development of Kurdish literature. [8]

She lives and works in Sulaimaniya, Iraq.

Works

a photo of Kajal Ahmad, taken with the camera of a Spanish photographer in 2005. Kajal Ahmad 2005.jpg
a photo of Kajal Ahmad, taken with the camera of a Spanish photographer in 2005.

Her poetry is embedded in Kurdish traditions, and her subject matter deals with themes of exile, isolation, homeland and conflicting emotions. [7] She has published seven books of poetry, and her work is also included in anthologies of important Iraqi poets. [2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Levinson-Labrosse, Alana Marie. "Four poems by Kajal Ahmad, translated from the Kurdish - Poetry Society of America". www.poetrysociety.org. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Mikhail, M.,Poets in the World: 15 Iraqi Poets [Poets in the World Series], New Directions, 2014
  3. ↑ Levinson-Labrosse, Alana Marie. "Kurdistan: Where Poets Are More Than Poets - Fair Observer". www.fairobserver.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Kajal Ahmad". Poetry Translation Centre. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ Homa, Ava (2016-08-30). "Personal is political in Kajal Ahmad's Handful of Salt". Kurdistan24. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  6. ↑ Homa, A., "The Personal is Political", Kurdistan News, [Los Angeles], 30 August 2016, Online:
  7. 1 2 Boochani, B., No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison, Picador Australia, 2018, [E-book edition], n.p.
  8. ↑ Maisel, S. (ed), The Kurds: An Encyclopedia of Life, Culture, and Society, ABC-CLIO, 2018, p. 171


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