Yemeni Women’s Journey in Literature: History, Challenges, and Achievements

Hebah Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

In the world of Yemeni literature, female writers stand as a fundamental pillar, shining brightly in the landscape of creativity. The history of female writers in Yemen holds inspiring stories of women dear to the hearts of readers, who have shared their experiences and thoughts in a vibrant and lively style.

Throughout the ages, Yemen has seen the emergence of talented female writers, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and aspirations toward a world of thought and creativity. Yemeni women writers have steadily advanced towards achieving their rightful place in the world of literature. They have used their pens to narrate stories that reflect diverse social and cultural issues.

The History of Women’s Literary Creativity

The history of female writers in Yemen is full of challenges and achievements. Despite social traditions that often restricted women’s participation in public life, there have been many Yemeni female writers and poets who have left their mark on Yemeni and Arabic literature.

Dr. Abdul-Hakim Baqis, a professor of literature and criticism at the Faculty of Arts at Aden University, wrote in his book, “Eighty Years of Novel in Yemen,” that “half a century of female narrative writing is a long time, considering the specificity of the Yemeni reality. However, the harvest is very meager, indicating the issue of female writing in a patriarchal tribal society, which only listens to the echo of its own voice. This will make it a daunting task for Yemeni female writers to break down the wall of their silence and represent their concerns and suffering on their own, in the face of a tribal society that reproduces oppression and tyranny upon itself, which will justify the feminist tendency.”

Baqis clarified that it has been almost half a century since the first short story written by a Yemeni woman was published. It was titled, “Tyrant, Oh Society,” and was published by the writer in the newspaper, “Voice of the South” on September 3, 1961. The writer used the symbol “F” to represent her name, driven by fear of revealing her name to a society that she had screamed at and whose silence she had condemned as injustice.

He also mentioned that the first short story collection belongs to the writer Shafiqa Zawqari, titled “Heartbeats,” which was published in 1970. The first novel written by a woman dates back to the early 1970s when Ramzia Abbas Al-Iriani published the novel “Victim of Greed.” Since the 1970s, women remained silent in writing novels, until the 1990s and the beginning of the new century, which represented the true beginning of women’s creativity in all literary fields and represented the true birth of Yemeni feminist literature.

Baqis pointed to the most prominent novels that appeared in the 1990s, saying, “Aziza Abdullah wrote novels like “Noble Dreams” (1997), “Sheltered by the Sage” (1998), “The State Spectrum” (1998), “The Accusation of Loyalty” (2002), and “The Father’s Wedding” (2004).”

He continues, “In 2000, Nabila Al-Zubair published her novel, “It’s My Body.” Then, feminist literary efforts continued, with Hind Haitham writing three novels: “Kings” (2003), “The Wood War” (2004), “Intimacy and Loneliness” (2006), and Nadia Al-Kawkabani writing two novels: “Nothing but Love” (2006) and “Married Women” (2009).” Regarding Yemeni women’s poetry, Baqis said that the first poetry collection was “Threads in the Twilight” by Maimuna Abu-Bakr Al-Hamid (1978), followed by “Captivity and Emancipation” by Yasmin Rajih in the mid-1980s.

He also pointed out that these two are the first printed poetry collections. He believes that the history of female poetic creativity in Yemen may go back to dates before that and that the large time gap between the two collections indicates the extent to which the female poetic creative movement has been hampered in Yemen, just like narrative works.

Writer Aisha Salih emphasized, “In the 1960s and 1970s, we saw a noticeable shift in the status of Yemeni women in literature. They began participating more in public life, including in literature, with prominent figures emerging like Fatima Al-Ashabi, one of the first Yemeni female poets to voice herself openly. The role of Yemeni women wasn’t limited to poetry but extended to novels and short stories.”

Aisha also highlighted the evolving role of Yemeni women in literature over the ages, stating, “The role of Yemeni women in literature has developed gradually and intricately, historically playing a key part in preserving oral traditions and folk culture. With the start of the 20^th century, Yemeni women experienced greater advancements in education and culture, allowing them to engage more prominently in writing. In recent decades, Yemeni women’s presence in literature has significantly increased, with strong female voices emerging in poetry, novels, and short stories.”

Regarding the key historical moments for Yemeni women as creators and writers, Aisha noted, “One of the most significant periods for Yemeni women as writers was the 1940s and 1950s when some women began to emerge in the literary scene despite substantial challenges.”

She continued, “After independence, the 1970s and 1980s saw a literary renaissance for Yemeni women, with writers like Aziza Abdullah and Nabila Al-Zubair venturing into novel writing. In the 1990s and beyond, women’s roles in literature expanded even further, with new names rising like Nadia Al-Kawkabani, who made important contributions to Yemeni novels.”

Maysun Al-Iryani, a Yemeni poet and translator, supports this by pointing out that Yemen has had many female poets who flourished during the 1970s and 1980s, challenging oppressive male authority and establishing strong names. She encourages readers to explore the works of Ghazala Al-Muqadashia, Ramzia Al-Iryani, Huda Abalan, Ibtisam Al-Mutawakkil, Sawsan Al-Ariqi, Maliha Al-As’adi, Nujood Al-Qadhi, and others, despite their diminishing presence over the years and the lack of attention toward new voices.

Regarding prominent female writers from the past who addressed women’s issues, she affirmed that writers like Huda Al-Attas and Arwa Othman produced valuable literary work focusing on the concerns of Yemeni women. They tackled a wide range of topics, from social and political issues to personal women’s concerns, presenting a unique feminist perspective on the specificities of Yemeni society.

Challenges

Writer Aisha Salih says, “Yemeni women have faced numerous challenges that have kept them from actively participating in the literary scene. Social traditions and prevailing values, which often emphasize women’s roles as homemakers, pose significant barriers to their literary ambitions.”

She clarifies that despite this, women began to make timid appearances in the literary landscape in the mid-20^th century, coinciding with the social and political changes in the country. These early efforts were often marked by writing under pen names or anonymously, out of fear of community backlash.

When discussing how Yemeni society views women as writers and authors, she points out that the treatment varies; in some areas, female writers face social and cultural restrictions that limit their full participation in literature. However, there’s been a noticeable improvement in the acceptance of women as writers, especially with the rise of social media, which has helped spread their work and attract a larger audience.

She highlights that the works of Yemeni female writers are profoundly influenced by the social and cultural conditions in Yemen, as many of these pieces reflect the challenges women face in society, including social restrictions, violence, and discrimination. This is evident in recent works, whether in prose or poetry, which tackle subjects from new angles that haven’t been explored before.

The Literary Situation in Yemen

Regarding the state of Yemeni literature, she says, “The Yemeni literary scene is experiencing a severe decline, going backward in ways no one could have imagined. Yemeni writers today are under immense pressure as they struggle just to make a living, especially for those still in the country. Writing has stopped being a viable career and no longer guarantees any respect or recognition for authors. Cultural institutions have failed to fulfill their roles as they should.” This is what poet Al-Iryani expressed while discussing the state of literature in Yemen.

She adds, “The role of Yemeni women as authors and poets in enriching the Yemeni literary scene has almost completely vanished. Even when they seem to be present, their contributions hardly compete or make any significant impact, except in rare cases.”

Al-Iryani expresses her regrets, saying, “I apologize for the pessimism my words may convey, but I hope time proves me wrong. Every time I try to read a poem by a female poet, it feels like I’m witnessing the end of a beautiful and poignant scene; it captivates me, but sadly, this harsh reality is what I feel right now.”

Achievements and Successes

Despite the challenges, Yemeni female writers have continued to create and produce, achieving many notable accomplishments. Writer Aisha Salih mentions that they actively participate in literary conferences and symposiums at the Arab and international levels, contributing valuable insights and innovative ideas. Their works have been published by Arab and international publishing houses, expanding the reach of their writing and amplifying their voices on a broader scale.

She adds, “Their active involvement in establishing literary awards that boost and encourage female creativity has motivated more women to excel and shine in the world of literature. Despite the challenges, the literary scene for Yemeni women continues to progress and evolve noticeably. Their strong will and ability to achieve success despite the obstacles in their path are evident.”

Al-Iryani says, “There’s no doubt that many female writers have significantly contributed to highlighting women’s issues and advocating for their rights. This approach represents an investment in future generations. Future generations will recognize and respect the tremendous efforts made to break down barriers and grant women their full rights, voices, and value in society.”

She hopes that every novel will find its place in the modern world of cinema, with movie clips being produced and translated into the language of moving images and virtual reality, keeping pace with technological, social, and AI advancements. This approach could help preserve the vitality of the art of writing and convey cultural and social messages in innovative and engaging ways before this art form disappears forever.

Many achievements have been achieved through the power of words, showcasing unique success stories told by many Yemeni female writers, including writer Aisha Salih Muhammad, whose heart holds worlds of creativity and excellence.

Two stunning stories, “Blood on the Platform” and “Under the Ashes,” shine among the pages of her novels and embark on a journey of success and brilliance, armed with her magical pen that weaves tales that touch the depths of hearts.

Her story collection, “No Time to Cry,” which won the Yusuf Idris Award, reflects her extraordinary ability to create imaginative worlds that captivate audiences and inspire hope.

In the world of poetry, she shines bright, winning first place in the colloquial poetry category at the first Women’s Poetry Festival in Aden in 2022. Her words dance between grace and beauty, telling stories that weave together the depth of emotion and the beauty of expression.

In the world of children’s and young adult literature, her words transform into enchanting stories, from “My New Friend” to “Colorful Tales” and “Happy Green Planet,” taking us on a magical journey to worlds of innocence and imagination, telling stories that bring joy to the hearts of the little ones.

Her emerging novels leave a special mark on the world of literature, “Beyond the Light Tunnel” and “An Adventure in Dunafa.” Her stories are varied and appear in renowned magazines like “The Little Hero” and “Cloud.” She shines with her delicate brush in the realm of captivating stories.

In the field of social writing, she sprinkles her stories with her elegant style in her books “Family Guidance” and “After Marriage and After Divorce.” She paints a moving social portrait that touches the hearts of readers and enriches social dialogue.

Let’s move on to Maysun Al-Iryani, the brilliant Yemeni poet and translator, who has solidified her name in the world of literature with her remarkable accomplishments and extraordinary creativity. Her inspiration and expertise have been translated into poems that hold within them the depth of feeling and the brilliance of thought.

Among her outstanding publications is a poetry collection titled “Hiyal” (Tricks) which she published in 2017 from the Manuscripts House in the Netherlands. The second edition of this collection won the State Youth Award in November of the same year.

Her creative work doesn’t stop there but extends to a poetry collection published under the Abdul-Aziz Al-Muqalih Literary Award titled “Al-Mawarib from Paradise” in 2013 and a poetry collection titled “I will Pierce the Sky with Lovers” which was published by Faradis Publishing House in Bahrain in 2009.

Her accomplishments have been crowned with numerous awards, confirming her brilliance and creativity. She has received prestigious awards like the International Tolüola Award in its 26th edition in 2021 and the Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Muqalih Award for Literary Creativity in 2013.

Maysun Al-Iryani, the poet brimming with life and words, has successfully achieved numerous accomplishments and awards, including first place in poetry at Sana’a University and the University of Science and Technology, and the title “Poet of the Year” in 2010 from “Poets Without Borders” group.