UAE leaders mourn Nabati poet Ousha
She was one of the first women to write Nabati poetry when she started in her teens
The country is mourning the loss of Emirati poet Ousha Bint Khalifa Bin Amad Al Suwaidi — known as Fatat Al Arab [Girl of the Arabs] — who broke down barriers in the male-dominated literature landscape in her youth.
Ousha was 98.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday mourned the legendary poet.
“The UAE has lost a great symbol of literature, wisdom and poetry. Ousha Bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Fatat Al Arab. May Almighty Allah bestow his mercy upon her and rest her soul in eternal peace and grant her family patience and solace,” Shaikh Mohammad tweeted.
“Fatat Al Arab has left behind treasures of literature and poetry, which will continue to tell her biography and she will always be remembered,” Shaikh Mohammad added.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also mourned the Emirati poet saying: “The UAE has lost a great literary figure who left a prominent mark in Nabati poetry. Her poems have enriched the Emirati memory with wisdom, knowledge and creativity. May Allah have mercy on Ousha Bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi and grant her family patience and solace.”
Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, also mourned the poetsaying: “Ousha Bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi is an exceptional figure with a proven track record of outstanding achievements and contributions to the local cultural scene.
“She is a popular contemporary poet known for her rich contents and multifaceted creativity. The cultural scene will miss a great poet,” ■ ■ ■ ■ Ousha Bint Khalifa Bin Amad Al Suwaidi was called Fatat Al Arab by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid after a series of poetry recitals with her. Her Nabati poems have been turned into songs. She started reciting poetry at the age of 15.
Her poems centre on themes of love, wisdom and patriotism.
She was chosen Personality of the Year by Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2014 Al Kaabi tweeted.
She was called Fatat Al Arab by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid after he held a series of poetry recitals with her.
Her Nabati poems have also been turned into songs.
In March 2014, Al Suwaidi was feted with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature’s Personality of the Year award to honour her trailblazing contributions to Arabic literature.
In her teenage years, she had listened to many poets reciting their poetry and at the age of 15, she started reciting poetry. She soon began to pen her own poems writing about love, wisdom and patriotism.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed