Bachtyar Ali

Bio: Bachtyar Ali is a prominent Kurdish intellectual from Iraqi Kurdistan. He is one of the leading novelists of his generation and by far the most-read Kurdish novelist. He has written over 40 books, including more than 12 novels. His work is partly rooted in recent Kurdish history; they are often a meditation on the themes of revolution, the relationship between politics and arts, friendship, and often seek to give a voice to those who are on the margins of the society. He has been living in Germany since the mid-1990s where he has been awarded the prestigious Nelly Sachs Prize, joining past recipients such as Milan Kundera, Margaret Atwood and Javier Marías. His novels have been translated into seven languages, including English.

Ali was born in 1966 in Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq. In 1983, he was injured during student protests against Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party, and he abruptly ended his studies in geology. He devoted himself to poetry instead and received that same year his first prize, for his poem "Nishtiman" (“Homeland”). After the revolt of 1991, writers and intellectuals in the Kurdish region of Iraq experienced a surge of creative autonomy. In his criticism, he is well known for employing Western philosophical concepts to interpret an issue in Kurdish society, modifying or adapting them to the context. His novels similarly synthesize literary traditions, drawing from contemporary Kurdish events as well as fantastical elements. In Kurdistan, he is celebrated for his non-partisanship and open criticism toward the political and social relationships in his homeland. Bachtyar Ali has lived in Cologne since 1998.

Events: Lost Countries: A CHEUSE SALON with Busboys and Poets