Ašraf Abul Jazid je egipatski pesnik, romanopisac, novinar. Trenutno radi kao predsednik Azijskog udruženja novinara i glavni je urednik Književne serije „Put svile“. U Kulturnom novinarstvu radio je 32 godine. Napisao je i preveo 42 knjige. Neki od njegovih romana i tomova poezije prevedeni su na engleski, španski, turski, persijski, korejski, malajamski, sindi i nemački jezik. U poslednje dve decenije proputovao je više od 30 zemalja. Dobitnik je brojnih nagrada i priznanja u oblasti kulture i književnosti.
1. Za početak, spomenula bih vaš najnoviji, vrlo uspešan projekat „The Silk Road Literature Series“. To je sjajna ideja da se ujedine pesnici iz celog sveta. Recite nam, kako je sve počelo? Šta vas je inspirisalo?
Sve je počelo mojim putovanjima samim Putem svile. Posetio sam mnoga mesta na ovoj istorijskoj ruti. Tokom svojih putovanja otkrio sam bogatstvo kultura i civilizacija koje sam sreo, zahvaljujući naučnicima i kulturnim ličnostima koje sam upoznao. Rodila se ideja da se ovaj put istakne kroz fokusiranje na njegova književna dela. Verujem da je književnost pravo ogledalo života. Seriju sam naveo kao štampano izdanje. Nakon objavljivanja 5 knjiga u ovoj seriji, svet je pogodila pandemija.
Serija književnosti „Put svile“ postala je digitalna, objavljena besplatno na izdanju kao čitljiva pdf datoteka. Onda sam preneo ideju sa izdavanja knjiga za pojedine autore i prevodioce, NA ŠTAMPANJE antologijA za stotine pesnika. Prva velika antologija bila je „Azija peva“, druga „Mediteranski talasi“, treća „Drevni Egipćani, moderni pesnici“, a četvrta će biti objavljena do kraja ove godine pod nazivom „Arapske noći, svetski pesnici“. Više od 150 pesnika iz 40 zemalja pridružilo se ovoj antologiji.
2. Recite nam nešto više o samom procesu, koliko je uzbudljivo upoznavati nove ljude iz drugih zemalja kako biste stvorili jedinstveno umetničko delo?
Prvo, veoma je interesantno razvijati porodicu kreativnih autora. Kada sam počeo pozivati pesnike da se pridruže, nisam očekivao tako veliki odziv. Prethodna antologija je imala 600 stranica u boji, a ja sam imao priliku da pošaljem štampane primerke onima koji su ih naručili. Autori su se sprijateljili, poezija nam je pomogla da se okupimo. Od e-pošte, preko specifičnog dizajna za svakog pesnika, do izgleda i objavljivanja na mreži, procesa koji zahteva vreme, ali rezultat zaslužuje sav uloženi trud.
3. Ima li novih ideja i antologija u najavi?
Antologijske kolekcije su postale moderne, pa pokušavam da pronađem nove ideje. U prethodna 4 projekta verujem sa sam to uspeo. Zato bih da zadržim buduće teme u tajnosti, ali obećavam da će biti potpuno jedinstvene. Radim na idejama koje povezuju ljudska bića kroz poeziju.
4. Šta vam predstavlja veće zadovoljstvo, pisati svoje ili prevoditi tuđe knjige? Šta zahteva više truda?
prevođenjE je težak posao za uživanje jer se mora završiti u određeno vreme. u pisanju sam slobodan. To mi daje dovoljno slobode da mnogo puta menjam tekstove i reči, ali ne mogu da imam takvu slobodu u prevodu. Oba čina mi pričinjavaju zadovoljstvo, posebno kada se radi na dovršavanju kratkih prevoda ili spisa.
5. Recite nam nešto o knjigama koje ste objavili.
Neke moje knjige su veoma srećne. Neki od romana su prevedeni na engleski i korejski jezik. U toku je i prevod na indonežanski jezik. Postoji na desetine prevoda poezije koju sam napisao, a moja antologija izabranih pesama je prevedena na engleski, turski, persijski, sindhi, nemački i španski jezik. Međunarodni festivali su i dalje dobra pozornica za upoznavanje sa vašim knjigama.
6. Često putujete. Koje je vaše omiljeno mesto koje ste posetili? Da li vas putovanja inspirišu da pišete?
Putovao sam iz Egipta u Sudan, Južnu Afriku, Tunis, Libiju, Maroko, Oman, Saudijsku Arabiju, Jemen, UAE, Bahrein, Katar (AP), Kuvajt, Jordan, Siriju, Liban, Iran, Indiju, Kinu, Nepal, Vijetnam, Uzbekistan, Rusiju, Tatarstan, Tursku, Italiju, Nemačku, UK (AP), Španiju, Kostariku, Etiopiju (AP) i Togo. poslednje mesto koje sam posetio je Nigerija.
U mojim romanima likovi pripadaju različitim zemljama i žive na različitim destinacijama. Ovaj kosmopolitski efekat je element inspiracije. U poeziji su ideje isprepletene višestrukim kulturnim platnom. Moj odgovor je >>DA<<, putovanja su me mnogo inspirisala.
7. Koje su vaše omiljene knjige? Da li ste čitali dela nekih srpskih autora?
Volim da čitam beletristiku, pesme i članke. Osim toga, novinarstvo vam nudi priliku da čitate više, i o umetnosti, i o nauci.
Takođe sa zadovoljstvom mogu da vam kažem da je jedna od mojih knjiga objavljena 2021. bila prevod kratkog putopisa srpske književnice Jelene I. Dimitrijević (1862-1945) „Pisma iz Egipta“, objavljenog na arapskom jeziku u izdanju izdavačke edicije Književnost „put svile“ (Literature of the Silk Road). Putopis se objavljuje povodom jubileja – 95 godina od boravka srpskog pisca u Egiptu, nastao je u Kairu, 30. novembra 1926. godine.
8. Koja je književnost danas najpopularnija u Egiptu?
Romani, romani i romani. Postalo je lakše napisati roman od 400 stranica nego pronaći dobru pesmu na jednoj stranici. Jedan od glavnih razloga je to što se romani podstiču nagradama koje pobednicima obećavaju vredne prihode. Romani bi takođe mogli biti način da se prikaže lažna istorije. ona je način da pobegnemo od stvarnosti. Izdavači ne vole knjige poezije. Više vole romane, jer im ogromni romani daju šansu da podignu cene.
9. Imate dugogodišnje iskustvo u radu kao urednik u časopisima i TV programu. Šta vam se najviše dopada u tom poslu?
U celoj svojoj novinarskoj karijeri gradio sam mostove između kultura; moji putopisi su čitaocima predstavili jedinstvene kulture, moj TV program (Drugi) upoznao je arapske gledaoce sa svetskim kulturnim ikonama, moje Antologije „Put svile“ su okupile istaknute svetske pesnike, a prevodi su ponudili čitaocima priliku da pročitaju nova imena. Most koji se gradi za bolji ljudski život je idealan cilj za život.
10. Šta biste, kao dugogodišnji novinar, izdvojili kao najbolju stvar u novinarstvu?
Pokazati istinu i boriti se za istinu.
11. Koliki uticaj i značaj ima novinarstvo u svetu poslednjih godina?
Nakon uspostavljanja braka virtuelne stvarnosti sa novinarstvom, trenutno smo svedoci nove faze novinarstva: građanskog novinara. Sada bi par ili grupa građana mogla da pokrene javno mnjenje. To je bila uloga tradicionalne štampe, koja je sada zamenjena novim novinarima naoružanim digitalnim alatima i internet platformama.
Opasnost iza kulisa je da ovi novi novinari ne daju počasnu zakletvu da će biti verodostojni. Dakle, suočavamo se sa okeanima lažnih vesti. Pored toga, slabi urednici imaju tendenciju da recikliraju vesti sa društvenih medija bez da ih testiraju.
12. Dobitnik ste brojnih laskavih nagrada u kulturi i novinarstvu. Kako se osećate u odnosu na postignute rezultate tokom vaše dugogodišnje karijere?
Moja osećanja su pomešana osećanja ponosa, zadovoljstva i zahvalnosti. U isto vreme nadam se da ću imati vremena da nastavim svoje snove. Naporno radim ne da bih osvojio nagradu, već da bih osvojio mesto u srcima svojih čitalaca. Uživam u pisanju, uživam i u dobijanju kredita i zahvalnosti.
13. Vi ste osoba koja voli da se osmehuje i širi ljubav. Šta vas najviše ispunjava?
Usrećiti svoje voljene je prioritet. Odgajati nove generacije sa verom u budućnost je plemenit zadatak.
14. Šta biste savetovali mladim piscima/novinarima?
Život je maraton sa više krajeva koje treba preći. Savetujem svim kolegama da ne prestaju da sanjaju; ispunjenje jedne misije je znak za početak sledeće. Kontrolišite svoje talente veoma dobro, oni će vam doneti uspeh koji zaslužujete. Naši pisani maratoni se ne mere metrima ili kilometrima koje pretrčite, već se broje humanim ciljevima koje na tom putu postignete.
An Interview with poet, novelist and journalist
Ashraf Aboul-Yazid
Ashraf Aboul-Yazid is an Egyptian poet, novelist, journalist. He is currently the president of Asia Journalist Association and the Editor-in-Chief, The Silk Road Literature Series. He worked in Cultural Journalism for 32 years. He has authored and translated 42 books. Some of his novels and poetry volumes have been translated into English, Spanish, Turkish, Persian, Korean, Malayalam, Sindhi and German. He travelled across more than 30 countries for the last 2 decades.
- Lets start with your most recent successful project “The Silk Road Literature Series” which was a brilliant way to unite poets from all over the world. Tell us, how it started? What inspired you?
It all started with my travels on the Silk Road itself. I visited many places on this historical route. During my travels I discovered the richness of cultures and civilisations I encountered, thanks to scholars and cultural figures I met. The idea was born to highlight this road through focusing on its literary works. I believe that literature is a real mirror of life. I stated the series as a print edition. After publishing 5 books in this series, the world was hit by the pandemic.
The Silk Road Literature Series became digital, published free on issuu as a readable pdf file. Then I transferred the idea from publishing individual books for individual authors and translators, to bring anthologies for hundreds of poets. First grand anthology was “Asia Sings”, the second was “Mediterranean Waves “, the third was “Ancient Egyptians, Modern Poets “, and the fourth will be published by the end of this year, entitled “Arabian Nights, World Poets”. More than 150 poets from 40 countries joined this anthology, their works have been published in the AsiaN.
2. Tell us about the process, how exciting and challenging it is to meet new people from other countries in order to create one piece of art?
First, it is very interesting to grow a family of creative authors. When I started my calls requesting poets to join I didn’t expect that great response. The previous anthology was 600 full colour pages, and I got the chance to send print copies to those who ordered them. Authors became friends, poetry helped us to gather. From an email, to a specific design for each poet, to layout and publishing online, a process that takes time, but the result deserves that effort.
3. Are there new ideas and anthologies on the way?
Anthology collections became fashionable, so I try to find new ideas . In the previous 4 projects I believe I could do that. So let’s keep the future themes secrets, but I promise they would be totally new. I work on ideas that connect human beings together through poetry. Nature will continue to inspire poets, so will find our path in nature.
4. What do you enjoy more, writing your own or translating someone else’s books? What takes more effort?
In translating, I am working according a tough time schedule. It is a hard work to enjoy and complete on specific time. But in writing, I am free. It is giving my the enough freedom to change texts and vocabulary words many times , but I can’t get such a freedom in translation. Both acts give me enjoyment, especially when work is done, even on completing short translations or writings.
5. Tell us about the books that you’ve published.
Some of my books are very luck; to be translated or reviewed. Some of novels have been translated into English, Korean and Malayalam. There is also a translation going on into the Indonesian language. In poetry, there are dozens of poems translations, but my anthology of selected poems have been translated into English, Turkish, Persian, Sindhi, German and Spanish. International festivals continue to be a good stage for getting impressions on your books.
6. You travel a lot. What is your favorite place you have visited? Does travel inspire you to write.
I traveled from Egypt to Sudan, South Africa, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar (AP), Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tatarstan, Turkey, Italy, Germany, UK (AP), Spain, Costa Rica, Ethiopia (AP) and Togo. My latest travel was to Nigeria.
In my novels, characters belong to different countries and live in different destinations. This cosmopolitan effect is an element of inspiration. In poetry, ideas are weaved together with multiple cultural cloth. My answer is YES, travel inspired me a lot.
7. What are your favorite books? Have you ever read a book from some Serbian writer?
I love reading, fiction or non-fiction. Poems and articles. In addition, journalism offers you a chance to read more, I also read in arts and science.
I am also happy to tell you that one of my books published in 2021 was a translation a short travelogue of the Serbian writer Yelena Y. Dimitriyevitch (1862-1945) „Letters from Egypt“, published in Arabic in the edition of the publishing edition Literature of the Silk Road (Silk Road Literature). The travelogue is published on the occasion of the jubilee – 95 years since the stay of the Serbian writer in Egypt, was written in Cairo, on November 30, 1926.
8. What kind of literature is most popular in Egypt, nowadays?
Novels, novels and novels. It became easier to write a 400 page novel than to find a good single page poem. One of the main reasons, novels are encouraged by prizes that promise winners with valued revenues. Novels could also be a way to give fake histories. And, it is a way to run away from reality and defeat sensors. Publishers don’t like poetry books. They like novels better, as huge novels give them a chance to raise their prices.
9. You have many years of experience working as an editor in magazines and TV program. What is the thing you like the most about being an editor?
In all of my journalism career, I have building bridges between cultures; my travelogues introduced unique cultures to readers, my TV program (The Other) introduced world cultural icons to Arab viewers, my Silk Road Anthologies brought prominent world poets together, my translations offered readers a chance to read new names. A bridge being built for better human life is an ideal goal to live for.
10. As a long-time journalist, what would you single out as the best thing in journalism?
To show truth, and fight for truth.
11. How much influence and importance journalism has in the world, lately
After establishing the virtual reality marriage with journalism, we are currently witnessing the new phase of journalism: the citizen journalist. Now, a couple or a group of citizens could move the public opinion. This was the role of traditional press, now replaced with new journalists armed with digital tools and internet platforms.
The danger behind the scenes is that these new journalists don’t swear the oath of honour to be faithful. So, we are facing oceans of flooding lies and fake news. In addition, weak editors tend to recycle the social media news without testing them.
12. You are the winner of numerous flattering awards in culture and journalism, how do you feel looking back at your career?
My feelings are mixed emotions of being proud, satisfied and grateful. In the same time I hope I have time to continue my dreams. I work hard not for winning a prize, but to win a place in the hearts of my readers. We enjoy writing, we also enjoy getting the credit and appreciation.
13. You are the person who likes to smile and spread love. What fulfills you the most?
Making my beloved ones happy is a priority. Growing new generations with hopes in future is a noble task.
14. What advice would you give to young writers/journalists?
Life is a marathon with multi ends to cross. I advise all colleagues not to stop dreaming; the fulfilment of a mission is a point to start the following one. Control your tools very well, they will give back the success you deserve. Our marathons in writing are not measured in meters or kilometres you run, they are counted by good targets you achieve.
Interview by Anita Pešić
