On Saturday in Skikda, participants in a national historical symposium titled “Poetry and the Revolution, Poet Moufdi Zakaria (1908-1977) as a Model,” emphasized the importance of translating the works of the revolutionary poet into global languages to draw inspiration from them.
During the event, Haj Moussa Ben Omar, the President of the Moufdi Zakaria Foundation and a professor of modern and contemporary history at the École Normale Supérieure in Bouzareah, Algiers, highlighted the significance of making the poet’s works accessible worldwide. He also mentioned ongoing projects to translate “The Iliad of Algeria” into the Amazigh language.
Moudjahid Heni Bekir Ben Moussa from the Ghardaia province shared his personal experiences with the revolutionary poet, noting that Zakaria “maintained the traditions of his country, was known for his humility, and was deeply rooted in authenticity.”
Additionally, Saleh Belaid, President of the Higher Council of the Arabic Language and a member of the Moufdi Zakaria Foundation, pointed out that the author of the national anthem “Kassaman” has inspired many poets both within and outside Algeria. He added, “We are proud of him as a poet, as he was one of the architects of the Algerian revolution’s glory through his words and pen.”
The symposium, held at the Nour El-Din Sahraoui Public Library in downtown Skikda, coincided with the 47th anniversary of the poet’s passing. It was organized by the Directorate of Mujahideen of Skikda in collaboration with the Moufdi Zakaria Foundation and various stakeholders. The event featured poetry readings by poets from different provinces and discussions focused on Zakaria’s biography and his poems.
