Tunisia
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Abou el Kacem Chebbi
Tozeur, Tunisia
Archival Overview
Immortal national poet of Tunisia whose fiery romantic and revolutionary verses in 'The Will of Life' (Iradat al-Hayat) and 'To the Tyrants of the World' inspired generations of Arab anti-colonial struggles and the 2011 Arab Spring.
Biographical Record
Abou el Kacem Chebbi (1909–1934) was born in the desert oasis of Tozeur, the son of an Islamic judge. Educated at the ancient University of Al-Zaytouna in Tunis, Chebbi rejected rigid classical conventions to unleash an incandescent, romantic poetry of nature, existential agony, and revolutionary defiance.
Battling severe congenital heart failure throughout his youth, Chebbi poured his soul into his monumental poetic collection Aghani al-Hayat (Songs of Life). His immortal couplet from The Will of Life—'If the people one day desire life, then destiny must inevitably respond'—was incorporated into both the Tunisian and Algerian national anthems and roared by millions of demonstrators across the Arab world in 2011. He died at age twenty-five.
Key Life Milestones
Composition of The Will of Life (Iradat al-Hayat)
Composed the immortal revolutionary poem recited by freedom movements across the modern Arab world.
To the Tyrants of the World (Ila Tughat al-Alam)
Penned the ferocious warning to colonial oppressors, dying months later in Tunis at age 25.
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialTozeur, Tunisia