#MeMu's: 7anzallah by Najib Al-Ali

“ Dear reader permit me to present myself… I, God forbids from the word “I”… My name is 7anzalah, My father’s name is not necessary, My mother… her name is Nakbah and my younger sister’s name is Fatimah… My foot’s size, I don’t know… because I am always barefooted… Date of birth: I was born on June 5th 1967… Nationality” I am not a Palestinian, not Jordanian, not a Kuwaiti, not a Lebanese, not an Egyptian, not anybody… etc… In brief I don’t have an identity and I don’t intend to get nationalized… Simply I am an Arab and that is all… “

The figure of Handhala has become a fixture in the visual semantics of the Palestinian protest movement, in spite of his initial refusal to be nationalised. Created by the caricaturist Najib Al-Ali (1938—1987) in 1969, the figure represents a 10-year old boy who refuses to grow up until he can return home. He turns his back on the world and clasps his hands behind his back, refuses an outside solution to the conflict that has driven him from his homeland. Handhala goes crazy in 1982, “loses his cool”, becomes an active demonstrator, throws rocks, rather than be a passive, but very present observer, as of 1982, when Lebanon is invaded by Israel. “The crucified Jesus yanks a nailed hand from the crossbeam to throw a stone in support of the intifada.” says Michel Faber.

The simplicity and “truth” of the character, as well as his symbolic meaning have caused him to be adopted as a cartoon mascot of the Palestinian cause. He has been seen on walls around the world, lately to demonstrate solidarity with prisoners on hunger strike and to support the BDS (Boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement against Israel(3, 4) and poses as the movements logo(6), holding the scales of justice behind his back. He has become, in the terms of an online meme, a template, a space of discussion and opinion, to be recontextualised according to events and the expressive needs of the individual.

He has also been immortalised on keychains, t-shirts and other souvenir items.

This text was written by Naji Al-Ali to introduce Handhala. Retrieved from: http://adibkawar.blogspot.de/2011/02/my-nameis- 7anzalah-hanzalah.html

AKA: 7andalah, Handala. When transliterating Arabic names, it’s never quite clear what you’ll end up with.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/11/child-palestine-cartoons-al-ali

IGAF: Utopia- Les Jours Meilleurs

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this post, titled Dystopia , containing a dark version of the future, a look at the negative outcomes that might crawl out of the COVID-19 crisis. It has, by now been described as "9/11 in slow motion". Someone else broke a golden editorial rule to describe it as "2008 on crack". Media outlets, including Youtube, have warned of the long-term effects of this, on civil rights, labour and employment, surveillance and press freedom. And some, most notably Mr Orban of Hungary, have used this excellent opportunity to pass new, restrictive legislation that concentrates power in their hands. There have been calls for the elusive COVID cure not to be patented. And yet… And yet… It's easy to lose yourself in a media bubble, following the news and media 24/7, following, queuing in line to get into expensive shops, just walking into discount stores and the constant desire for many drinks (preferably with 10 friends or more, in a park...

IGAF: An ahistoric crisis?

One of the many reasons I have grown to appreciate interviews with Arundhati Roy over the last year of what I'm calling her book tour is that, in contrast with many speakers at conferences and interviewees, I never have the feeling she is trying to sell me something. She speaks in a calm, collected voice, full of knowledge, experience and occasional wisdom, without being desperately full of herself. One of my favourite sayings is, so far, goes something like "The most successful revolution was the secession of the rich onto a global planet, wherefrom they cannot see the poor. There is no more India, no more USA, no more Europe- there is planet Rich, then there is planet Poor, and both are global."* Carers at their limits- now more than ever. For €2400 and some chocolates? A month or so into what may be a new normal, my life is still pleasant- with some adjustment, I am, so far, privileged in this absence of change and an ability to follow the crisis as I would fol...

The Books of Faragh 4: Of Lines

This time, it's really all about lines ;) Below: Book of Faragh 4: of Lines (May 2020) Faragh/فراغ (Ar): emptiness, vacuum, a free space http://caramk.net/faragh/faragh.html

Caramblogage

Search This Blog