11 - 17 October 2001
Issue No.555
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 11 - 17 October 2001 Issue No.555 |
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Plain talk
The Alexandria Library is finally open. A few days ago there was a "soft opening," to use hotel lingo, which was a kind of rehearsal for the main event. I did not have the pleasure of being there for that occasion, but from press reports it seems to have been a great success.
However, I feel some issues should be raised in this connection. First, the Library is not, and couldn't possibly be, a revival of the ancient Alexandria Library. It is an important epistemological contribution on the part of Egypt and an architectural landmark fit to be a tourist site as well as a seat of learning.
Secondly, there are questions pertaining to one's expectations regarding the nascent institution. How can it acquire the uniqueness that will distinguish it from other international libraries? One thing immediately comes to mind: it should reflect the history and civilisation of the city. Alexandria was the centre of great civilisations like the Graeco-Roman one. It had its days of glory during those times. While being totally Egyptian, Alexandria had, and in some ways still retains, an aura that distinguishes it from other Egyptian cities -- an advantage that is in large part due to its geographical proximity to Europe, Greece and Italy to be exact. In fact, Lawrence Durrell regarded Alexandria as an extension of Greece and E M Forester sang its ancient glories. So much poetry has been written about the city, especially by Greek and Italian poets who adopted it as their second home, even when they retained links with their native provinces. This is why I suggested in a previous article that the Graeco-Roman Museum should be relocated and housed within the Library instead of its current out-of-the-way location.
The Library, in addition, should try to collect documents and manuscripts about Alexandria from museums and libraries all over the world. Where getting the originals may prove difficult, facsimiles could be acquired. In this way the Library can provide a complete compendium of knowledge about the city and its illustrious, many-hued history.
Another proposal which I feel strongly about is the acquisition of an African Library. Egypt is part of Africa and its connections with the rest of the continent have stood the test of time. It was a clever move to include Wole Soyinka on the board of trustees of the Library, I felt. Africa has of course produced great literature, many African writers like the aforementioned achieving international status. Indeed the names of Chinua Achebe of Nigeria, Dennis Brulus and Alexa Laguma of South Africa, Nugi Wathongo of Kenya, Sembene Ousmane from Senegal and many others besides have become an indispensable part of mainstream world literature.
African literature has gained such recognition that a well-known publisher like Heinmann runs a special African series in English while the Parisian Presence Africaine publishes a series of books by Francophone writers. In fact, even as I write, I have in front of me a poster with 30 photos of writers published by Heinmann. When I was in Paris I paid a visit to the Presence Africaine Library where I saw hundreds of novels, poetry collections and anthologies by African writers writing in French.
The Alexandria Library should make an effort to acquire these books and establish a special section for them. Together with this collection there should be a gallery of photos of these writers and for that matter another gallery of Egyptian writers' photographs. With the official opening and with the presence of Wole Soyinka, moreover, a symposium on African literature on Africa and Egypt would not be amiss.
These are just random thoughts, evoked by the soft opening of the Library. Maybe it will serve only to invite other opinions about the function of the Library. The Library is a great landmark and it should be the seat of great things.
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