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Zikr
Winner of the 2020 Ingrid Jonker Poetry Prize.
To be resolute in faith - in God, in oneself - in times of grief and disappointment. To unapologetically assert one's woman- and personhood in a society that attempts to devalue both. To seek hidden parts of yourself, both new and forgotten, through the memories and words of other people.
In Zikr's beguilingly measured and covertly powerful poems, Saaleha Idrees Bamjee achieves these often difficult tasks. In doing so, Bamjee introduces new idioms and understandings of Muslim identity to South African poetry - yet not through manifesto, nor outright polemic. This is a collection of fine metaphors, concrete turns of phrase, and a refreshing specificity of image, place, and self.
To be resolute in faith - in God, in oneself - in times of grief and disappointment. To unapologetically assert one's woman- and personhood in a society that attempts to devalue both. To seek hidden parts of yourself, both new and forgotten, through the memories and words of other people.
In Zikr's beguilingly measured and covertly powerful poems, Saaleha Idrees Bamjee achieves these often difficult tasks. In doing so, Bamjee introduces new idioms and understandings of Muslim identity to South African poetry - yet not through manifesto, nor outright polemic. This is a collection of fine metaphors, concrete turns of phrase, and a refreshing specificity of image, place, and self.
- GenresPoetry
53 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 18, 2020
I’ve read this book multiple times but I finally ordered it a month ago and yesterday it arrived the mail. These poems address loss and grief and prayer and faith and womanhood and Joburg in such a powerful way and they never get old with each re-reading.
April 13, 2019
An evocative, wise collection. Each poem a different kind of gem - a real treasure. Loved it.
November 21, 2020
This is one of my favourite books EVER. Saaleha writes precisely, compassionately & skillfully in a deeply brilliant, gorgeous, visually rich style. Just get this book. You won’t regret it!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews