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A French-language newspaper report celebrates the Senegalese publication of Une rue au Caire, highlighting literary translation, Egyptian-Senegalese cultural cooperation, and the international reach of contemporary Arabic poetry.
DAKAR, Senegal — The Senegalese press has highlighted the publication of Une rue au Caire (A Street in Cairo), a poetry collection by Egyptian poet, novelist, journalist, and translator Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, in a report that explores the power of literary translation to connect cultures across geographical and linguistic boundaries.
Published in Senegal by Éditions Sénégal Njaay, the French edition brings Aboul-Yazid’s Arabic poetry to French-speaking readers, extending the reach of his literary work from the banks of the Nile to the Atlantic coast of West Africa. The newspaper coverage presents the collection as a significant example of cultural exchange through publishing, translation, and poetry.
A Journey Across Languages and Cultures
The report, published under the headline « D’une rue au Caire à Dakar : Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, poète égyptien, édité au Sénégal » (“From a Street in Cairo to Dakar: Egyptian Poet Ashraf Aboul-Yazid Published in Senegal”), places the collection within the broader context of Egypt’s distinguished literary heritage.
It recalls the historical depth of Egyptian literature, from its ancient civilisational roots to the modern and contemporary literary traditions represented by figures such as Taha Hussein, Tawfiq al-Hakim, Naguib Mahfouz, and Alaa Al Aswany. Within this tradition, Aboul-Yazid’s collection offers a contemporary poetic perspective, bringing the experiences, memories, and urban landscapes of Cairo into dialogue with readers beyond the Arab world.
The publication is particularly noteworthy because the collection was originally written in Arabic and translated into French by the poet’s daughter, Houda Ashraf. Her work represents more than a linguistic transfer: it is an intergenerational act of literary transmission, seeking to preserve the rhythms, images, and cultural memory of the original poems while making them accessible to a new readership.
The newspaper emphasises the challenges and creative possibilities involved in such a process, in which the translator must recreate the poetic experience in another language without losing the distinctive voice of the original author.
International Recognition
According to the newspaper report and the information presented on the book’s cover, Une rue au Caire was among the finalists for the 2025 Prix international Balisaille.
This recognition adds an important international dimension to the Senegalese publication, placing the collection within a wider conversation about contemporary poetry and the circulation of literary works across national and linguistic boundaries.
The report also recalls Aboul-Yazid’s international literary and cultural profile. His distinctions include the Manhae Literature Prize in South Korea, the Kazakhstan Medal of Honour in 2022, and recognition for his contribution to children’s literature in Egypt in 2023.
Beyond his creative writing, Aboul-Yazid has maintained an active presence in international journalism and literary cooperation. His professional work has consistently explored the connections between literature, cultural identity, translation, and dialogue among peoples.
Egypt and Senegal: A Shared Cultural Horizon
The article situates the publication within the historical relationship between Egypt and Senegal, pointing to the potential of literature and publishing to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
By bringing an Egyptian poet’s Arabic-language work to Senegal through a French translation published by a Senegalese publishing house, the project demonstrates how cultural cooperation can take concrete form in books that cross borders and reach new audiences.
The significance of this achievement extends beyond the publication of an individual collection. It illustrates the role of African publishing houses in facilitating international literary exchange and opening spaces for writers whose work emerges from different linguistic and cultural traditions.
The movement of A Street in Cairo from Arabic into French, and from Egypt to Senegal, also highlights the importance of translators, editors, and publishers as partners in the international circulation of literature.
Poetry as a Bridge Between the Nile and the Atlantic
The newspaper’s coverage ultimately presents Une rue au Caire as an example of how literature can transform geographical distance into cultural proximity.
A street in Cairo becomes more than a local setting: it becomes a point of entry into a world of memories, human experiences, and shared emotions that readers in Dakar and elsewhere can encounter through poetry.
For Aboul-Yazid, whose literary activities span poetry, fiction, translation, journalism, and international cultural initiatives, the Senegalese edition represents another step in the continuing journey of his work across languages and continents.
The publication also reinforces the role of translation in expanding the horizons of Arabic literature, allowing its voices to enter new cultural environments while retaining their distinctive identities.
From the streets of Cairo to the literary landscape of Dakar, the collection offers a compelling reminder that a book can become a meeting place between cultures, and a poem can travel farther than the language in which it was first written.
Book details
- Title: Une rue au Caire (A Street in Cairo)
- Author: Ashraf Aboul-Yazid
- Original language: Arabic
- French translation: Houda Ashraf
- Publisher: Éditions Sénégal Njaay, Senegal
- Preface: Arwa Ben Dhia
- Recognition: Finalist for the 2025 Prix international Balisaille
Source: A French-language newspaper report published in Senegal under the headline « D’une rue au Caire à Dakar : Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, poète égyptien, édité au Sénégal ».
