Monthly Archives: December 2010

Dec 24 2010

Ibrahim al-Koni’s Great Desert is often mistaken for an empty land.


Elliott Colla, Wednesday 22 Dec 2010

Ahram online

This year’s Egyptian State prize for the novel, awarded to authors who write in the Arabic language, has gone to Ibrahim Al-Koni. As an event attesting to the broad enthusiasm among Arab critics and readers for Al-Koni’s great art, last week’s award was only one moment of recognition among many. By now, Al-Koni has earned as many literary awards as any other living Arab author, and he has done so across the entire breadth of the Arab world, from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike most Arab novelists who still tend to be read as national writers (Egyptians, Lebanese, Iraqis and so on), Al-Koni is one of a few whose reception has effectively transcended the national borders that divide the Arab world.

The irony of this, of course, is that Al-Koni’s mother tongue is Tamasheq (not Arabic) and he writes largely about Twaregs, not Arabs. While it would be a mistake for us to draw a sharp line between these two peoples, for centuries this is precisely what the Arabic literary tradition did. In the accounts of pre-modern North African travelers and geographers, Twareg culture and society is presented as radically other. Indeed, Arab writers tended to draw sharp lines between Arabo-Berber-Muslim culture of the Maghreb, and that of the Twaregs—a people whose political structure is matrilineal and whose conversion to Islam was at times thought to be less than complete and sincere.

Taking the Twareg aspect of Al-Koni’s writing seriously allows us to recognize a radically redrawn map of the world—one in which the Sahara is a full, rather than empty space; one in which the Twareg lie not at the edges, but the center of history. Al-Koni’s novels take place in a desert world that is, despite its desolation, surprisingly rich in the sense that everywhere there are living beings struggling to live. In Al-Koni’s fiction, the meaning of life is always tied to struggle. Thus, Al-Koni’s novels paradoxically suggest that only here—in the harshest corners of the desert waste—does life emerge in its richest sense.

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Dec 23 2010

Martin Scorsese on the Imprisonment of Iranian Filmmaker Panahi


Martin Scorsese has issued a statement about the 6-year prison sentences slapped on Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammed Rasoulof. Along with Steven Spielberg and Francis Coppola, Scorsese spoke out on Panahi’s behalf at Cannes, when the Iranian filmmaker was first arrested. “I was shocked and disheartened by the news of Jafar Panahi and Muhamed Rasoulof’s conviction and sentencing,” Scorsese said. “It’s depressing to imagine a society with so little faith in its own citizens that it feels compelled to lock up anyone with a contrary opinion. As filmmakers, we all need to stand up for Panahi and Rasoulof. We should applaud their courage and campaign aggressively for their immediate release.” This follow similar sentiments of support by Iranian filmmakers Ali Samadii Ahadi (docu The Green Wave) and Maryam Keshavarz (Cirumstance) each of whom are bringing those pictures to next month’s Sundance Film Festival. »

Source

Dec 21 2010

Arab Novel Award goes to Ibrahim al-Koni, the author of Seven Veils of Seth


20/12/2010

ibrahim_alkoni.jpg

Libyan novelist Ibrahim al-Koni received in Cairo the Arab Novel Award and dedicated the value of the prize to the children of the Tuareg tribes from which he originally hails.

At the closing ceremony of the fifth round of the Cairo Novel Conference, prominent Libyan author Ibrahim al-Koni was chosen from 23 competitors to receive the Arab Novel Award, whose value is 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($18,000).

“Koni was chosen for his ability to breathe life into the desert on the human, natural, spiritual, and mythological levels,” said Syrian critic Sobhi Hadeedi, who headed the jury. The committee in charge of choosing the winner praised Koni’s ability to utilize folklore, oral tradition, death rituals, and aspects of everyday life in order to create a literary work.

“He creates his own individual anthropology,” added the committee statement.

Seven-Veils.jpg

The Seven Veils of Seth

Ibrahim al-Koni

Garnet Publishing, 2008

ISBN 9781859642023

 

Ibrahim al-Koni is a Libyan Tuareg who writes in Arabic. He studied comparative literature at the Gorky Institute in Moscow, and was a journalist in Moscow and Warsaw. He has lived in Switzerland since 1993, and authored over 50 novels, short stories, poems and aphorisms, all inspired by the desert. Some works have been translated into 35 languages, including eight into German and six into French.

Children of Tuareg

Upon receiving the prize from Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, Koni announced that he wants to donate the money to the children of the Tuareg, the tribes that inhabit the desert interior of North Africa and from which he also hails. Koni specified that he wanted the Tuareg children in Niger and Mali to be the beneficiaries of his award. Ibrahim al-Koni, born in 1948 in the desert town of Ghadames in the Fezzan region in southwestern Libya, studied comparative literature at the Russian Maxim Gorky Literature Institute and worked as a journalist in Warsaw and Moscow.

He wrote all his books in Arabic, which he learnt when he was twelve, and his novels were translated into 35 languages.

Koni is the recipient of numerous awards, on top of which is the Swiss State Award for his novel Bleeding of the Stone in 1995, the Libyan State Award for all his work in 1996, and the Japanese Translation Committee Award for his novel Gold Dust in 1997. He also received the French Order for Literature and Arts in 2006 and the Sheikh Zayyed Book Award in 2007.

Saudi author Abdul Rahman Munif received the first Arab Novel Award, given every two years, followed in 2003 by Egyptian author Sonallah Ibrahim, who refused to receive the award from a government that “does not possess the credibility to grant it.” In 2005, the third award went to Sudanese author Tayyeb Saleh and the fourth in 2008 to Egyptian author Edward al-Kharrat.

Dec 17 2010

Job: Assistant Librarian: Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, UK


ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN Salary: £25,000 to £32,000

The Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations was established in London by the Aga Khan University in 2002.  The goal of the Institute is to strengthen research and teaching on the heritage of Muslim societies as they have evolved over time, and on the challenges these societies face in a globalising world. The social sciences and humanities provide sound intellectual tools to study the construction of knowledge, processes of social change, structures of governance, and creative expressions across Muslim societies and cultures. AKU-ISMC also seeks to create opportunities for interaction among academics, traditionally trained scholars and other professionals in an effort to deepen the understanding of issues affecting Muslim societies today.

The Assistant Librarian will work with the Librarian to support teaching and research through:
•    the selection and preparation of materials
•    the maintenance of collections
•    the development and provision of electronic and print resources in relevant subjects and research themes.
The Institute’s library holds a unique collection on Muslim cultures, in a variety of languages; that serve the teaching needs of the Institute and also offer a significantly distinctive scholarly research collection.

In return, the University offers a competitive salary, a 35 hour working week, a generous pension scheme, childcare vouchers, personal accident and life insurance (after qualifying period).
For further details please visit us at: http://www.aku.edu/ismc

Responsibilities
1.    Cataloguing and classifying new and existing accessions, using an automated Library Management System, AACRII, MARC21, LC classification and subject headings; editing existing records where necessary.
2.    Assisting with acquisitions and managing the electronic resources and periodical collections.
3.    Assisting with reference and circulation services to readers, including answering e-mail, telephone and other enquiries.
4.    Supervising the Reading Room, with responsibility for security whilst on duty there.
5.    Developing a working knowledge of the Library’s collections, printed, electronic and audio-visual.
6.    Preparing consignments of Library material for despatch to commercial binders; liaising with binding contractors; checking returns and invoices.
7.    Assisting with the training and supervision of the Library Assistants.
8.    Assisting in the development of the Library Management System and the On-line Public Access Catalogue.
9.    Assisting with the development of the Library’s website
10.    Participate in the AKU-ISMC’s information literacy programs
11.    Participate actively in AKU-ISMC’s research and learning activities
12.    To take an active approach to continuing professional development
13.    Undertake general duties, including assistance with reprographic services, group visits, and other duties as required.
Requirements
Essential

Education:
•    An IFLA/CILIP recognised Library/Information Science qualification, preferably at the Master’s level or equivalent experience in a research intensive academic library
•    A good honours degree in a subject relevant to the discipline of Muslim studies, Islamic studies, or Middle Eastern Studies, i.e. Arabic and either Persian, Turkish
•    The ability to read, and where appropriate, communicate in the language concerned, or sufficient experience to be able to provide the services required
Skills/Aptitudes:
•    Relevant experience as a library professional
•    Good IT skills, including accurate keyboarding and the ability to pay attention to detail
•    Excellent skills in online scholarly and academic resource retrieval
•    Experience of cataloguing in MARC21 and to AACRII standards
•    Experience of Library of Congress classification and subject headings
•    Ability to work methodically and accurately
•    Good verbal and written communication skills
Personal Attributes:
•    Able to prioritise duties, meet deadlines and work simultaneously on several projects
•    Able to work unsupervised and as a member of a team
•    Able to deal politely and efficiently with patrons
•    Able to work under pressure in the Reading Room
•    Ability to work to agreed standards
Knowledge/Experience:
•    Working knowledge of Arabic and/or at least one other major language of a Muslim region to the level required for selection, cataloguing and classification
•    An interest in the field of Muslim studies
Desirable Attributes
•    An interest in the aims and work of the Library and a desire to enhance access to collections through electronic means
•    Familiarity/experience in web page management/design
•    Familarity with international metadata standards
•    Familiarity with digitisation issues
•    Experience of working with a diverse and multilingual readership
•    Knowledge of reprographic practices, techniques and standards
To Apply
Candidates with permission to work in the UK, should submit a CV and covering letter stating how their skills and experience meet the person specification via email to: ismc.personnel@aku.edu or via post to:

Human Resources Department
Aga Khan University
Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations
210 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DA
Applications should be submitted latest by January 13, 2011.
Disclaimer
AKU-ISMC is part of Aga Khan University (AKU), an international university with operations in ten countries. By submitting an application to AKU-ISMC you agree to revoke your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998 thereby permitting AKU-ISMC to share the contents of your application with relevant colleagues at our headquarters institution AKU Karachi, and with its nominated agents for the purpose of completing this recruitment exercise. AKU-ISMC will only contact those candidates who have been short-listed for an interview.

Dec 10 2010

Jobs: Arabic Language (Lecturer)


Deadline: January 10, 2011

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, invites applications for a Lecturer in Arabic whose appointment will begin August 2011. The position is in principle renewable indefinitely on the basis of satisfactory performance and may lead to promotion to Senior Lecturer after five years of continuous appointment. The successful applicant’s responsibilities will include articulation and coordination of the Department’s Arabic language courses, supervision and training of one or more graduate teaching assistants, and teaching three courses per semester. Qualifications include a PhD or ABD (PhD in hand by August 2011) in Arabic linguistics or literary and cultural studies with interest in Second Language Acquisition, substantial experience in teaching language courses, and native or near-native fluency in English and Arabic, including oral proficiency in a spoken Arabic dialect. Competitive salary and a full range of fringe benefits. Applicants should send letter of application, CV, teaching portfolio, and placement dossier with at least three letters of recommendation to: Prof. Ihsan Bagby, Chair, Arabic Search Committee, Modern and Classical Languages, 1055 POT, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506-0027 (http://www.as.uky.edu/MCLLC/). The University of Kentucky is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University that values diversity and is located in an increasingly diverse geographical region. It is committed to becoming one of the top public institutions in the country. Women, persons with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Applications will be acknowledged. Review of applications will begin January 10, 2011 and continue until the position is filled.

Dec 10 2010

Surge in US students of Arabic


By Karin Zeitvogel (AFP)

WASHINGTON December 2010 — Arabic was the fastest-growing foreign language for US university study last year, with enrollments growing by more than 46 percent compared to 2006, a study released Wednesday showed.

Besides English, Arabic leapfrogged Latin and Russian to land in eighth place on the most studied language list, which has been compiled 22 times since 1958 by the Modern Language Association (MLA).

Other countries that showed double-digit percentage growth were Korean, which grew by just over 19 percent; Chinese, up by 18.2 percent; American sign language, up 16.4 percent, and Portuguese, by around 11 percent.

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Dec 8 2010

The New Arab Media: Technology, Image and Perception


The New Arab Media: Technology, Image and Perception

The New Arab Media: Technology, Image and Perception

Edited by Mahjoob Zweiri and Emma C. Murphy

Hardback

192pp

Size: 235 x 155mm

Imprint: Ithaca Press

ISBN: 978-0-86372-347-6

Published: December 2010

Order Here

Amazon Kindle Ebook Edition also available

Read a free sample chapter here

The New Arab Media: Technology, Image and Perception provides a valuable introduction and analysis of some of the most important issues surrounding the new media revolution in the Middle East, in particular examining the two Janus-like faces of the new media in the Middle East: its role in reflecting developments within the region as well as its function in projecting the Arab world outside of the Middle East.

 

Topics examined within the book include the impact of Al-Jazeera; implementation of the Internet in the region; use of the media for diplomacy and propaganda; image culture; use of the Internet by religious diasporas; ICTs and the Arab Public Sphere; the influence of satellite TV on Arab public opinion; and the explosion of local radio stations in Jordan.

About the editors

Mahjoob Zweiri is an Assistant Professor in Modern History of the Middle East and Central Asia at the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University. He was until recently senior researcher in Middle East Politics and Iran at the Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) at the University of Jordan. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers, and is the co-author (with A. Ehteshami) of two books, Iran and the Rise of Its Neoconservatives: The Politics of Tehran’s Silent Revolution (I.B. Tauris, 2007) and Iran’s Foreign Policy: From Khatami to Ahmadinejad (Ithaca Press, 2008).

 

Emma C. Murphy is Professor of Political Economy in the School of Government and International Affairs, University of Durham. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and a co-editor of the journal Mediterranean Politics. Her interests in the Arab media stem from the political economy of information and communication technology and she has published articles on this subject in journals such as Third World Quarterly and International Studies Quarterly. Her monographs include Economic and Political Change in Tunisia: From Bourguiba to Ben Ali (Palgrave, 1999) and (co-authored with Clive Jones) Israel: Challenges to Identity, Democracy and the State (Routledge, 2002).

Other contributors include Ahmet Uysal, Jon W. Anderson, Andreas Musolff, Abdel-mutaleb Al-Zuweiri, Khaled Hajji, Saima Saeed, Fiona McCallum, Fares Braizat and David Berger.