Mohamed Choukri

Mohamed Choukri, born on July 15, 1935, in the small village of Beni Chiker in Morocco's Rif mountains, emerged from a life of poverty to become a celebrated writer and teacher. His early years were marked by hardship, as he fled from a strict father and lived as a homeless child in the challenging neighborhoods of Tangier, where he was surrounded by violence and drug abuse. At the age of twenty, he made the pivotal decision to learn to read and write, eventually becoming a schoolteacher.

Choukri's literary journey began in the 1960s when he found himself in the cosmopolitan environment of Tangier, where he crossed paths with notable figures such as Paul Bowles, Jean Genet, and Tennessee Williams. His first published work, a story titled "Al-Unf ala al-shati" or "Violence on the Beach," appeared in the Beirut-based monthly review Al Adab in 1966. However, it was his autobiography, "For Bread Alone" (al-Khubz al-Hafi), translated into English by Paul Bowles in 1973, that brought him international acclaim. The book, which faced censorship in Morocco for many years, has been translated into thirty languages and is regarded as a profound document of human desperation.

Choukri's literary contributions extend beyond his autobiography, encompassing an autobiographical trilogy that includes "Zaman Al-Akhtaâ aw Al-Shouttar" (Time of Mistakes or Streetwise) and "Faces." He also authored several collections of short stories during the 1960s and 1970s, such as "Majnoun Al-Ward" (The Flower Freak) and "Al-Khaima" (The Tent). His works often reflect his encounters with prominent writers, culminating in titles like "Jean Genet and Tennessee Williams in Tangier" and "Paul Bowles: Le Reclus de Tanger."

Choukri passed away from cancer on November 15, 2003, at a military hospital in Rabat. His funeral on November 17 was attended by numerous dignitaries, including the minister of culture and the spokesman of the king of Morocco. Before his death, he established the Mohamed Choukri Foundation, which manages his copyrights, manuscripts, and personal writings, ensuring that his legacy endures.