Mubarkah Bent al-Barra

• Born — 1956 • Birthplace — al-Mazarzara • Notable Works — * Taranim li-watan wahid • al-Mar’a fi-l-mujtama‘ alMuritani • Education — Higher Teachers’ School (MA) (1983) Muhammad V University (1987) • Genre — Poetry, non-fiction, short stories • Language — Arabic • Native Name — باته بنت البراء

She was born and raised in al-Mazarzara, Ataklalat. al-Bura' has a Masters from Higher Teachers' School and advanced degree from Muhammad V University. Her poetry and writing focuses on themes of Mauritanian culture, independence and history, and feminism. She has written one poetry collection, Taranim li-watan wahid (al-Wataniya Press, 1991); one novel, al-‘Ubur ila-l-jisr; one short story anthology, al-Azafir al-hamra’; and two non-fiction books, al-Bina’ al-masrahi ‘ind Tawfiq al-Hakim and al-Mar’a fi-l-mujtama‘ alMuritani. Taranim li-watan wahid was critically acclaimed and became well known in Mauritania. Her poetry has been studied and analyzed by scholars since, including Yansara bint Muhammad Mahmoud and Muhammad al-Hafiz ibn Muhammad.

Al-Barra has extensively researched the oral poetry of Mauritania; more specifically, she has studied the tibra, a form of love poem whose recitation is restricted to all-female gatherings. Some of these she has translated into French. Her collection Taranimli-Watanin Wahid (Songs for a Country for All) was published in 1992, and Al-Shi'r al-Muritani al-Hadith, min 1970 ila 1995 (Modern Mauritanian Poetry, 1970-1995) was published in 1998. Some of her poetry has been anthologised in English. She also published a children's book, Hikayat Jaddati (My Grandmother's Tales), in 1997, and was co-editor of a volume of folktales as well. Al-Barra is prominent in Mauritanian cultural life, and has frequently attended literary festivals elsewhere in the Arab world.