Piece image

Ghada Kanafani, Palestinian Poet in Exile

From: Claudia Cragg
Length: 00:20:05

Ghada Kanafani, Palestinian Poet in Exile Read the full description.
To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

More from Claudia Cragg

Caption: Author Andrew Lam

Andrew Lam, 'Perfume Dreams', 'East Eats West' (00:26:26)
From: Claudia Cragg

The Vietnamese-American author on his work and on Human Trafficking
Caption: Author Jean Kwok - Girl in Translation

Author Jean Kwok on Sweatshops, Legal Immigrants, 'The American Dream' and 'Girl In Translation' ... (00:21:28)
From: Claudia Cragg

Kwok's debut novel 'Girl in Translation' became a New York Times bestseller. It has been published in 15 countries and chosen as the winner of an American Library Association ...
Caption: Rye Barcott In Kibera

Rye Barcott, TED fellow, former Marine, 'It Happened on the Way to War' (00:27:48)
From: Claudia Cragg

Rye Barcott, ' Chasing the Mad Lion' (Kibera, the US Armed Forces and the "Catalytic Power of Participatory Development"
Caption: Nuclear Sponges for Radiation , Credit: Greenpeace

Dr Helen Caldicott: NO safe levels of radiation, NO safe levels of food radionuclides (00:13:09)
From: Claudia Cragg

THIS IS AN UPDATE dated 1 April 2011 from Dr. Helen Caldicott, physician, paediatrician, and author of 'Nuclear Is Not The Answer' on the current situation in Japan.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Asma Jahangir - Pakistan, the Rule of Law and the NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) (00:25:07)
From: Claudia Cragg

Asma Jahangir is the Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a special 'rapporteur' for the UN on Freedom of Religion and Beliefs. She has denounced a Supreme ...
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Bhopal 25 years on - Dr. Suroopa Mukherjee (00:23:51)
From: Claudia Cragg

Indian state authorities have announced that, 25 years after the Union Carbide Bhopal tragedy that killed thousands, the (till now) sealed pesticide plant is to be opened for ...
Caption: PRX default Piece image

T. R. Reid on "The Healing of America" (00:29:33)
From: Claudia Cragg

A global quest for better, cheaper and fairer health care
Piece image

'Holy Roller', Diane Wilson, From Fundamentalist to Activist (00:27:57)
From: Claudia Cragg

If only all of us were so 'Unreasonable' - her first memoir...
Piece image

Write a true life story for Field Report and win $250K ? (00:06:15)
From: Claudia Cragg

Online venture seeks revolution in publishing industry
Piece image

Burma 08 08 1988 -- 20 Years On (00:23:04)
From: Claudia Cragg

The life of Burmese refugees in Northern Thailand

Piece Description

Interview with Ghada Kanafani, a Palestinian poet born in Lebanon in 1948. The hardships and trauma of displacement prevented Kanafani from writing poetry for many years. Her new book, A Life in Pencil represents that re-emergence into creativity. Kanafani spoke recently with KGNU's Claudia Cragg on her life and times and on recent events in the Palestinian authority. She received her Masters Degree in philosophy from the Lebanese University in Beirut. She left Lebanon in 1984 and immigrated to the United States in 1985. The book's publication is funded in part by the Boulder Arts Commission and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. Further information at: http://www.ghadakanafani.com/bio.htm

1 Comment Atom Feed

User image

Review of Ghada Kanafani, Palestinian Poet in Exile

Some strong emotion surfaces in this straightforward interview with exiled Palestinian poet Ghada Kanafani. Born in Lebanon in 1948 - the year creation of the state of Israel displaced her family; grew up reading Arabic poetry which brought tears to her eyes; wrote her first poem in 1967 - "the end of everything," she says.

"I'm not the one who's suffering," she says. But her deep sighs and moving description of entire lives spent in refugee camps tell another story. As does the heartfelt reading of her poem at the end of the interview.

The first time I listened to this with my professional radio ears, I was put off by a shakey start and off-miked questions which sometimes interrupted the poet. But I was drawn into her story and when I listened again, these technical flaws seemed less important. I would still prefer a more artful framework for this thoughtful poet's words and ideas. But they come through in the interview anyway, so perhaps I'm being too critical.

Might be a strong topical offering for April Poetry Month.

Additional Files

Related Website

http://www.ghadakanafani.com/bio.htm