AFP/Cairo
Egyptian poet Abdel Rahman al-Abnudi, widely known for his revolutionary verse and criticism of two toppled presidents, died yesterday at the age of 76, his wife said.
Abnudi, who underwent brain surgery at a Cairo hospital just days ago, rose to prominence in the 1960s for his poems, some performed by legendary Arab singer Abdel Halim Hafez.
In a career spanning four decades, Abnudi, known for his leftist views, published several volumes of mediaeval poems on Arab hero Abu Zeid al-Hilali and his tribe that travelled through the Middle East and North Africa.
Born in 1939, Abdnudi’s fans affectionately called him “uncle”.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab offered their condolences to Abnudi’s family.
“Egypt and the Arab world have lost a great poet... his contributions to poetry will remain a national and Arab symbol,” Sisi’s office said.
In recent years, Abnudi openly criticised former presidents Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Mursi, both toppled after mass uprisings, but has supported Sisi.
Abnudi reads a poem at the Cairo Opera House during a special concert held in support of Palestinians, in this May 2, 2002 file photo.