The First Saudi Female Poet to be Published in the US

The first Saudi female poet to be published in the US, writer and activist Nimah Nawwab is currently on tour in the US East Coast as she addresses issues related to challenges which form the basis for her art and activism, spirituality and women in times of transition in the Middle East. She will combine readings, book signings and lectures at various organizations.

Her newly released book, Canvas of the Soul: Mystic Poems from the Heartland of Arabia, published by Tughra Books, encompasses poems of fiery love and peace from the spiritual heartland of Islam composed by a modern-day female poet descended from a long line of Meccan (from Mecca) scholars.

Reflecting the pulsing, indivisible bridge of the works of great Sufi mystics and poets to modern times, these spiritual pieces recall the beloved works of Rabi'ah Al 'Adawiyyah, Rumi and Hafiz. Drawing on a rich religious legacy and led by the Sufi tradition seeking Unity, the poems cover aspects related to spirituality and present-day challenges. The inspiring combination of the traditional and modern in these compositions will touch the inner souls and captivate the hearts of those interested in Higher Love in these turbulent times of transition and frantic search for peace.

Nawwab's book tour includes lectures and book signing at Middle East Institute, Washington, DC(April, 26); Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University (April 30); East-West institute, Chicago, IL (May 16); The Brecht Forum/ASMA, New York, NY (May 22); and Book Expo America, New York, NY (June 5).

Author Bio:
Nimah Nawwab is a poet, writer, photographer, lecturer and activist in Saudi Arabia. Born to a scholarly Meccan family, she has been dubbed a "voice for Arab women and youth." She often works with established and emerging filmmakers, musicians, calligraphers, and artists of various genres through mentorship projects. As an activist, Ms. Nawwab has been involved with numerous women's issues, including the forced divorce petition and legal case, and the guardianship of women. Ms. Nawwab has spoken at international events including the World Economic Forum, the Japan Expo, and the UN Pavilion, and has lectured at the Smithsonian, American University, Rice University, Ghalib Academy in India, and London University's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Nawwab's best-selling book and work have been featured in numerous media outlets including BBC World News, Newsweek International, MSNBC the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbum, GEO France, India's Asian Age, Malaysia's Berita Harian, Britain's Hello magazine, as well as numerous Arabic media.

Reviews

The voice of a female Saudi Arabian poet expressing her deep spiritual yearnings in Sufi- inspired poetry is indeed a rare but also precious experience amidst all the din of strife and anger that surrounds so many Muslims today. This voice recalls that Islam emphasizes not only Divine Justice but also Divine Mercy and that the Blessed Proph women's jackets et reflected not only Divine Majesty (Jalal) but also Divine Beauty (Jamal), the latter possessing a female dimension that is so evident in classical Sufi poetry. The present book is significant in that it reflects something of that classical expression of spiritual beauty in a contemporary language expressed by a female poet who hails from the land where the Blessed Prophet was born, carried out his prophetic mission and died.
-Seyyed Hossein Nasr

"Nimah is a talented writer and poet who isn't afraid to speak her mind and address issues that, quite frankly, are often ignored as a result of timidity. I commend her efforts in this noble initiative where the arts combine in powerfully written poetic compositions and a showcasing of Islamic arts."

• Sami Yusuf

Nimah's poems unfold the living landscapes, the horizons that hold the signs spoken of in the Qur'an, the calligraphy of the mountains dipping into the desert, the inkwell of God's words, reflecting the signs before us into the secrets within the Book of Man.
-Shems Friedlander

Canvas of the Soul: Mystic Poems from the Heartland of Arabia
Available May 2012
$19.95 Cloth ISBN-13: 978-1-59784275-4
120 pp. 6 x 8 inches

Contact: Ahmet Idil, 973-777-2704
agi(at)tughrabooks(dot)com