The
demise of the Egyptian artist Beiram El-Tunsi on 5/1/1961 in Alexandria
put an end to the sufferings of a man who was most attached to the people
and their problems, most expressive of their dreams and aspirations, vividly
and minutely depicting the social and political life.
He wrote poems, novels, and strophes, yet the latter were his key to fame as he topped the folk verse writers.
Mahmoud Muhammed Moustafa Beiram known as Beiram El-Tunsi (or the Tunisian)was born on 23/3/1893 in Alexandria. His father was a merchant and his grandfather emigrated from Tunisia to Egypt in 1840. Beiram joined school until the age of 12 when his father died. So, he steered to manual work, then to trade.
Beiram first related to the world of literature as a child when his eyes riveted on a builder narrating folk tales and drolleries. Thus, he began to read poetry collections of the likes of Ibn-Al-Roumi as well as the strophes of the likes of Muhammad Tawfik which set off the tendency towards scalding criticism and sarcasm within him.
He remained to be a simple merchant in Alexandria fond of literature until his creative potentials came to light when confronted with the spread of injustice inflicted on Egypt by the British occupation. So, he wrote his first folk poem entitled "Municipal Council" which was published in several newspapers and sold around 100,000 copies when printed. This encouraged him to indulge in literature tackling traditions and conditions of the society in his strophes either by approval or criticism.
Beiram's poetical works streamed on. He also contributed to the 1919 Revolution by issuing his strophe paper "Al-Masalla" (The obelisk) on 4/5/1919, hence, clashing with the occupation authorities. He was therefore exiled on 25/8/1920 to France, leaving behind a wife and two childern. In his exile, Beiram suffered bitterly from loneliness and hard life.
On 27/3/1922, he sneaked back to Egypt and hided out for some while then resurfaced with his anti-colonialism strophes which led to his re-exile to France on 25/5/1923.
Beiram's sufferings grew in exile and, as a result, he left for Tunisia in 1932, then to Syria in 1936 and back again to Egypt on 8/4/1938 amidst the national movement against colonialism which demanded the resumption of constitutional life. In 1939, he was pardoned and in 1952, he declared his endorsement of the July Revolution.
Once again he rocketed into the world of journalism, published his strophes that met success. He, then, steered to the cinema, radio, and theatre where the most famous Egyptian singers chanted his words such as Sayed Darwish and Om Kalthoum.
Beiram's strophes were distinguished for their internal rhyme, well-chosen rhythm, simplicity in expression along with candour and full command of the language, imagery and spontaneity. In his opperettes, the dialogues were fantastically managed as characters naturally communicated, being one of the best writers of operettes.
Beiram's works in general were famous for direct scalding criticism,
and a sarcastic tone which he likened to electric shocks stimulating the
readers' minds towards the problems of the society.
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