Native name محمد عبد الحي Name Mohammed Abdul-Hayy Nationality Sudanese | Occupation poet, literary critic | |
Alma mater Khartoum UniversityUniversity of LeedsUniversity of Oxford | ||
Mohammed Abdul-Hayy (1 January 1944 – 23 August 1989) was a member of the first generation of post-colonial Sudanese writers and academics. He is regarded as a pioneer of modern poetry in Sudan.
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Early life
Abdul-Hayy was born in Ad-Damir on 1 January 1944. His father worked as an architect, and his mother was the daughter of an architect. Abdul-Hayy accompanied his father on his travels, giving him an understanding of the diverse and multiracial culture of Sudan. This had a great influence on his poetry, which focuses on the dilemma of identity in Sudan.
Education and academic career
Abdul-Hayy initially studied medicine, but his interests led him to change his area of study to the arts. Abdul-Hayy entered Khartoum University in 1962. While studying Abdul-Hayy was published in many Sudanese newspapers, such as Al-Rayaam.
Mohammed Abdul-Hayy was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Khartoum University in 1967, and then appointed as teaching assistant in the English department. He then got a scholarship and was sent to England, where he was awarded a Master of Arts in English literature from Leeds University in 1970. Abdul-Hayy's thesis focused on the Scottish poet Edwin Muir. Abdul-Hayy was awarded a PhD in Comparative Literature from Oxford University in 1973. His PhD focused on the influence of American and English romantic thinking on Arabic poetry. After obtaining his PhD Abdul-Hayy returned to Sudan, teaching English and comparative literature at Khartoum University. He served as head of the Department of English from 1978 to 1980. Abdul-Hayy had two daughters, Shiraz and Reel, and two sons, Waddah and Mohammed Elmoatz. Mohammed Abdul-Hayy died on 23 August 1989 in Soba University Hospital, Khartoum.
Poetry
In 1973 Abdul-Hayy released his poem Alawada alla Sennar (Return to Sennar). Alawada alla Sennar focused on the Sudanese national identity, and used the Kingdom of Sennar as a historical symbol of African and Arabic coexistence. Alawada alla Sennar gained widespread acclaim within the Arab world upon publication.