Description
Book SynopsisNamed a Notable African Book of 2023 by
Brittle Paper
The Beauty Hunters offers a rare insight into Sudanese Bedouin poetry, its evolution, aesthetics, and impact. Through an in-depth profile of al-?ardallo, the doyen of this art form, Adil Babikir explores the attributes that established him as a poet of international stature. The life of al-?ardallo was a series of journeys in pursuit of beauty. From wandering across the Bu?ana wilderness to his adventures with women, he documented the ups and downs of his life using superb verse. In addition to its aesthetic value, al-?ardallo’s poetry offers rich material for Sudanese studies as it carries glimpses of the sociopolitical developments in Sudan during his lifetime, having lived through three distinct eras: Turco-Egyptian rule (1820–1885), Mahdist rule (1885–1898), and part of the Anglo-Egyptian era (1898–1956). Reading Bedouin poetry in a hybrid context, as a major contributor to what Babikir
Trade Review“The clouds of neglect have parted, and an enchanting book of classical African poetry has come forth shining. The Bedouin poetry of Sudan, a descendant perhaps of the pre-Islamic poetry of Arabia, can also sit alongside the Chinese
Book of Songs and Hāla’s
Sattasaī of India, pure poetry bearing the scent of the land and woven with silk-fine imagery and exquisite lyricism.
The Beauty Hunters is a tour de force, proving once again that Africa is the heart of the world’s beauty and light. Thank you, Adil Babikir, for this wonder of a book.”—Khaled Mattawa, author of
Fugitive Atlas“Here the legacy and enduring appeal of al-Ḥārdallo, Sudan’s preeminent nineteenth-century poet, is showcased with thoroughness and panache. Oryxes, heavy rains, and dancing women blaze through a vivid pastoral landscape of nomadic tribes and journeys guided by the stars. Adil Babikir’s moving and vibrant translations capture the exuberance and pathos of this Afro-Arab poet, caught in the crosshairs of imperialism.
The Beauty Hunters bears witness to the richness and range of Arabic as it mingles with the local Beja and Nubian languages of Africa.”—Leila Aboulela, author of
Minaret and
The TranslatorTable of ContentsAcknowledgments
Notes on Transliteration
Introduction: A Life’s Journey in Search of Beauty
1. Al-Ḥārdallo’s Time
2. Romance
3. The Nature Lover
4. Al-Ḥārdallo’s Style
5. The Musdār: A Historical Context
6. Musdār al-Nijūm: A Journey across the Stars
7. Musdār Rufāʾa: A Terrestrial Journey across the Buṭāna
8. The Role of Bedouin Poetry in Shaping Sudan’s Aesthetic Taste
9. The Bedouin Poem: A Living Legacy
10. The Musdār and the Ḥaqība
11. Contemporary Musdārs
12. Al-Ḥārdallo’s Poems
Musdār al-Ṣayd
Miscellaneous Quatrains
Nostalgia
Romance
Heartbreak
The Ordeal
Farewell
Arabic Glossary of Local Terms
Notes
Bibliography
Index
