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Sayed Hijab: Great Poet from Egypt Passes Away | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Minister of Culture, Helmy Namnam (Photo: Bassam Al Zoghby)


Cairo- With deep feelings of sadness and pain, Egyptians mourned Sayed Hijab, one of the Arab world’s most eminent poets. Hijab passed away at the age of 77 after a long battle with illness at Maadi Armed Forces Hospital.

A large number of intellects, artists, and writers including Culture Minister Helmi el Namnam, Amr Moussa, the former Arab League Secretary General, and the former Minister of Culture attended the poet’s funeral.

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail also mourned the eminent poet and praised his contributions to poetry, literature, and art, considering him one of the most important poets in the country.

Namnam mourned the death of Hijab, saying he was one of the 1960s poets, who witnessed many political events and circumstances which directed him to be a leading figure supporting national, social and political issues.

He added that many singers sang the writings and lyrics of Hijab, which made him even more famous.

Hijab was born in Daqahliya governorate on September 23, 1940. He was influenced by his city’s climate and the world of sea and fishing. His father, who was his first instructor, loved popular poetry and encouraged him on growing his talent and enhancing it with education.

He worked with the best poets in Egypt like Abdel Rahman el-Abnudi and Salah Jahin. He also composed lyrics for many movies and TV series.

Hijab was a co-founder of the Gallery 68 magazine, which published studies and poetry. This magazine was an attempt to compose an independent literature group and to mark the presence of writers amid the absence of an efficient union for writers.

Hijab spent his life striving for freedom and justice. He also provided myriad of modest works that touched the hearts of simple uneducated people.

The late poet received many awards and was honored by the 26th Tunisia Book Fair as one of the best poetry symbols in the Arab World.