The Conflict’s Impact and Repercussions on Literature in Yemen

Ahmed Bajoaim – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

In light of the dramatic events that Yemen is currently going through, the impact of armed conflict on literature and writing has been no less than the other areas that have been negatively affected in the country. Yemeni literature, like other components of the social and cultural fabric, has witnessed profound effects as a result of the ongoing conflict. The pen has turned from a mere tool for writing and expression into a weapon to confront injustice, violence, and the suffering of the Yemeni people, and into a platform for expressing the violations committed against civilians.

Literary writing is a mirror that reflects the reality of society in a powerful way and conveys suffering in a special and engaging style. It provides solutions to get out of the tunnel of crisis that has cast its shadow on the nation and its future. Literary works, such as stories or novels, discuss the magnitude of the challenges and crises facing the country. This crisis that Yemen is suffering from has imposed restrictions and challenges on creators, helping to create strong literary works that express pain, hope, and challenge.

In this report, we will review with writers and literary critics how current circumstances have shaped the literary scene in Yemen and contributed to developing literary styles and topics that Yemeni literature raises on a local, Arab, and global level. We will also learn about the most prominent literary works that have emerged amid the conflict, and the details of the impact of this harsh reality on literary creativity in the country.

The Impact of the Conflict on Creativity

Writer and author Salim bin Saleem began his statement with the famous quote, “Suffering creates creativity, and creativity comes from the womb of suffering.” He added: “I agree with this statement, at least partially. Conflicts and crises can indeed lead to a decline in literary production due to the writer’s preoccupation with issues of survival and providing basic necessities, or due to censorship and restrictions on freedoms. But at the same time, they can be the main motivator for creativity. The writer is driven to find new ways to express himself and his society.”

He explained that literature needs creative incubators, care, and cultural development programs and plans that contribute to the flourishing of the literary scene in Yemen, from the concerned authorities that are still absent due to the repercussions of the conflict. This has resulted in diverse literary works and writings that have addressed the effects of the conflict on writers and society in general.

Bin Salim continued: “Literature records and documents, and criticizes everything that has happened and is happening during times of conflict and its repercussions on society, through what writers deal with in their writings and works, in one way or another, with different ways of saying between them. Some writers have been attracted to the ideas and orientations of one side of the conflict, and in this case, we notice that the method of documentation, observation, and the angle from which the writer views some matters may differ from another. Therefore, I don’t think it’s easy to determine or classify how writers deal with their reality.”

He pointed out that the parties to the conflict have greatly influenced the writers’ opinions and ideas, which has deprived many works of independence, objectivity, neutrality, and even creativity. However, there are still literary works that strive to present the suffering of the country with objectivity, despite the attempt of the parties to the conflict to influence the ideas and beliefs of many members of Yemeni society.

Literary Models Amid the Conflict

Influential literary works have emerged during the years of conflict, which have had a wide impact at the local and external levels. Among these works and literary models that addressed the conflict is the book “Conflict in Modern Literary Criticism in Yemen, its Dimensions and Mechanisms” by Yemeni academic Dr. Yahya Ahmad Al-Ahmadi, which sheds light on the conflicts that literary criticism in Yemen has witnessed and that left a significant mark on the critical methodology and literary creativity. The book presents a detailed analysis of the conflicts that have revolved around various issues, such as plagiarism, local specificity, and the relationship between the old and the new.

Yemeni novelist Ahmad Zain, in his new novel “Night Shooting,” presents a vivid picture of the suffering of Yemenis in a time of conflict and exile. The novel sheds light on the daily suffering that Yemenis experience due to the ongoing conflict in their country, by exploring the challenges and difficulties they face.

“The Novel of War in Yemen: A Critical Study in War Literature and Conflict Narratives,” the book published in Cairo, is a new book by poet and critic Dr. Abdu Mansoor Al-Mahmoodi. In it, he explores the literature of conflict, examining its narrative characteristics in both Western and Arab novels, as well as the contexts of conflict in novelistic experiences in Yemen and the narrative contexts that address conflict in certain Yemeni novels. These contexts included several novelists and writers.

The Reality of Yemeni Writers

Literary writer Ahmad Jaafar Al-Habshi pointed out that Yemeni writers are facing a host of effects stemming from the political, military, and social conflict in Yemen. These effects encompass several aspects, most importantly the economic impact, which has resulted in the loss of jobs for some writers or a decrease in household income. This has driven many of them to seek out sources of income as a pressing priority, leaving them preoccupied with this endeavor and neglecting literature and writing. Also, psychological pressure and its reflection on literary productivity and the quality of works and writings are evident. This is clear from the themes being addressed, such as justice, freedom, suffering, and death, as a way to express pain and protest.

Bin Saleem said, “We don’t see any progress or growth happening to the reality of literature in the face of these conditions we are living through in Yemen. The bad reality that the writer experiences in their daily life is the worst compared to the people around them. The bitter reality pulls him away from thinking and being creative in crafting a unique, personal style of writing. If the opposite happens with some writers, this is a special case where they are given room to think and be creative, and they manage to produce something different.”

He continued, “On the other hand, there is a great effort by some writers and community initiatives that deserve appreciation and support. They are at least trying to confront the repercussions of the conflict to maintain literary work, support writers, and encourage them to continue their significant role in building and reforming ideas, raising awareness in society, and alerting it to what is happening around it, through criticizing the wrong behaviors that are spreading within it.”

Al-Habshi emphasized that many writers are facing harassment that could lead to their arrest because of their critical stances towards the general situation in the country. This restricts freedom of expression and prevents writers from voicing what is on their minds. This calls for the idea of emigration, finding a way out of reality, and searching for places of safety and vast spaces for freedom. This environment created by the conflict is difficult for writers and authors, and for all Yemenis as well. Yemeni literature, which has a long history, needs a vast space to feel safe and stable for creativity.

Reports Review

Arab and international reports indicate that the ongoing conflict in the country for nearly a decade has impacted every aspect of life in Yemen. It has left no area untouched, causing severe damage, and literature is no exception. Among these damages are the decline in writing and publishing activity at the local level, the cancellation of many literary festivals and events due to a shortage of financial resources, and the collapse of the security situation. Moreover, the salaries of writers have stopped or decreased due to the collapse of the local currency, and the space for writers’ opinions has been narrowed by the warring parties. All of this has had a significant impact on the reality of literature, as the conflict continues, according to Ultra Sound website.

A report published in 2019 entitled “Literature in Yemen: The Strong Spirit in the Face of Ruin” added that literature in Yemen lacks institutional and official work with the ongoing conflict. Institutional work in literary production has disappeared and has become an individual effort. There is also a small movement of some writers who were able to produce their works despite the tragic circumstances surrounding them. Their productions see the light of day because of their keenness and deep concern to convey their message to society.

The report stressed that the conditions of Yemeni writers were not good before the outbreak of the conflict. It is natural that their conditions in the face of conflict, displacement, and insecurity across security, political, and economic levels, have become more difficult and complex. Many writers have resorted to isolation, away from the conflict and the influence of the parties involved, while others have been able to travel abroad and live there.

Despite the obstacles arising from the conflict, hope remains that literature will contribute to highlighting the suffering of Yemenis and stimulate efforts to achieve peace and stability. Therefore, following the literary developments in Yemen not only reflects the impact of the conflict but also highlights the great ambitions that are being sought to achieve. This makes literature a vital tool in shaping the features of a future that Yemenis are waiting for.