Najwa Kawar Farah

Meet Najwa Kawar Farah

Najwa Farah (1923-2015) emerged as a significant voice in Palestinian and Arabic literature, her narrative spanning over five decades marked by a poignant blend of anguish and resilience. Hailing from Nazareth in 1923, she bore witness to the tumultuous landscape of her homeland, shaped by conflict and displacement. After graduating from the teachers training college of Palestine, she embarked on a journey of education and enlightenment, teaching in various schools as she navigated the complexities of her people's plight.

In 1950, she entered into matrimony with the Revd Rafiq Farah in Haifa, seeking solace amidst the chaos that surrounded them. Their life together unfolded against a backdrop of continual upheaval, from Jerusalem in 1965 to Ramallah in 1968, and eventually seeking refuge in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War of 1977. Each move brought its own share of challenges and heartaches, yet through it all, Najwa found inspiration in the resilience of her people.

Drawing from her own experiences and those of her community, Najwa's stories resonated with the pain and hope of ordinary Palestinians, particularly refugees grappling with displacement and longing for home. Her narratives often centered around the struggles of women, their resilience shining through amidst the darkness of political oppression and social discrimination.

With eleven collections in Arabic, Najwa painstakingly captured the essence of her people's collective experience, weaving together tales that echoed with the universal themes of love, loss, and the quest for belonging. In London, the Christians Aware organisation provided a platform for her English works, allowing her stories to transcend linguistic barriers and reach a wider audience. Similarly, Rimal Publishing in Cyprus extended her reach with English folktales, ensuring that her voice would continue to resonate across borders for generations to come.