On Friday, the Moroccan cultural scene mourned the loss of esteemed writer, poet, and critic Dr. Mohamed Serghini, who passed away at the age of 96 after a prolonged battle with illness, as reported by close associates.
Born in the city of Fez in 1930, Dr. Serghini was a towering figure in both Moroccan and Arab literary circles, leaving an indelible mark that spanned decades. His extensive body of work traversed poetry, literary criticism, translation, semiotic and philosophical studies, as well as novel and theater writing. Through his diverse contributions, he played a pivotal role in fostering pathways of renewal and modernity within Moroccan literature.
Dr. Serghini's creative and intellectual legacy is substantial, with notable poetic works including “And May His Names Be Burned” published in 1987, “Seas of Mount Qaf” in 1991, “The Sabaean Being” in 1992, and “Who Did This to Your Skulls?” in 1994. His collection “Under the Ruins Above the Ruins” earned him the Morocco Book Award in the poetry category, highlighting his profound impact on the literary landscape.
In the realm of critique and thought, Dr. Serghini enriched the Moroccan and Arab libraries with significant works and studies, including “Lectures on Semiotics.” He also engaged with the poetry of Salah Stetie through translation and analysis. His narrative contributions included the novel “I Found You in This Archipelago,” while his theatrical endeavors were exemplified by “The Ghost Train Song.”
Dr. Serghini’s poetic experience was characterized by a distinctive inclination to break conventional molds and transcend the ordinary, intertwining elements of mysticism with modernity. This unique blend allowed him to cultivate a poetic practice grounded in experimentation and a relentless pursuit of new forms and visions for poetry.
This journey solidified his status as one of the foremost poets in Morocco and the Arab world, drawing the attention of critics and researchers both domestically and internationally. His artistic journey was further recognized when he received the International Arkan Poetry Award in 2004, being one of the inaugural recipients of this honor bestowed by the House of Poetry in Morocco. He later won the Morocco Book Award in the poetry category in 2013 for his work “Under the Ruins Above the Ruins.”
Dr. Serghini's contributions were not confined to poetic creativity; he also embodied an academic and intellectual presence that bridged criticism, philosophy, mysticism, and modern poetic imagination. This multifaceted engagement established him as one of the influential figures in the development of contemporary Moroccan poetry and in shaping generations of scholars and students.
His academic journey began in his hometown of Fez, where he pursued studies at Al Quaraouiyine University. He later moved to the East, obtaining a degree in literature from Baghdad University in 1959. Upon returning to Morocco, he continued his academic pursuits at Mohammed V University in Rabat, earning a Comparative Literature degree in 1963, followed by a third-cycle doctorate in 1970, and a state doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1985.
In addition to his literary and intellectual contributions, Dr. Serghini was closely associated with Moroccan academia, serving as a professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Fez since the early 1960s. He continued his teaching, research, and academic mentoring until assuming the role of Deputy Dean of the faculty from 1986 to 1991.
Thus, Dr. Mohamed Serghini's influence extended beyond his poetic and critical works, reaching generations of students and researchers who learned from him the tools of critical inquiry and knowledge, contributing to the ongoing trajectory of the Moroccan school of poetry and criticism.
With his passing, the Moroccan cultural scene turns a page on one of its most significant literary and intellectual symbols, following a rich career that spanned decades, during which he remained devoted to renewal, experimentation, and the search for new horizons in poetry and thought. He leaves behind a lasting literary and critical legacy that will be etched in the cultural memory of Morocco and the Arab world.
As reported by expresstv.ma.
