Badr bin Abdul Mohsen Al Saud explained

Badr bin Abdul Mohsen Al Saud (; 2 April 1949 – 4 May 2024) was a Saudi prince, Arabic poet and painter. He was a son of Prince Abdul Muhsin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and nephew of all Saudi kings since 1953. He is known in the Arab world for his five poetry collections, where he combined both traditional and modernist styles of Arabic poetry.

Biography

Al-Badr, as he was called, started writing poetry at the age of 16. Author of five poetry collections, he drew inspiration from two different styles of Arabic poetry, vernacular Nabati Bedouin tradition and modernist Arabic poetry. Further, he was known for his innovations of contemporary Arabic poetry. Some of his sentimental and romantic verses also became lyrics for Arabic songs. Among other public events, his works were performed in 2018 at the Jenadriyah festival.[1] In 2023, he performed at a poetry evening at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and opened his first art exhibition in Saudi Arabia entitled "Masterpieces of Al-Badr".[2] According to literary scholar Mouneera Al-Ghadeer, his "spiritual and humanist tone" resembles that of Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran.[3]

In 2019, King Salman bin Abdulaziz awarded him the King Abdulaziz Medal. Badr Bin Abdulmohsin died on 4 May 2024 at the age of 75.[4] His death was mourned in numerous tributes and obituaries in TV programmes and newspapers of the Gulf region and the Arab world.

Awards and recognition

Works

All Arabic original titles given in English translation:[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4 May 2024. Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsin, icon of Saudi poetry, dies at 75. Saudi Gazette. English.
  2. Web site: 20 March 2023 . «إثراء» يحتفي بالبدر في ليلة فنيّة ساحرة تضيء سماء الظهران . 6 May 2024 . alyaum . Arabic.
  3. Web site: Al-Ghadeer . Moneera . 2024-05-17 . Remembering Badr Bin Abdulmohsin, the 'Poet of Light' . 2024-05-17 . ArabLit & ArabLit Quarterly . en-US.
  4. Web site: 4 May 2024 . Kingdom mourns death of pioneering Saudi poet Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsen . 6 May 2024 . Arab News . en.
  5. Web site: 24 March 2019 . UNESCO Honors Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsin . 7 May 2024 . Eye Of Riyadh . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2023-03-16 . Prime Minister attends Qurain Cultural Festival closing ceremony . 2024-05-17 . kuwaittimes . en.
  7. Web site: Saeed . Saeed . 4 May 2024 . The most notable works of Saudi poet Prince Badr Bin Abdul Mohsin, who has died aged 75 . 7 May 2024 . The National . en.