Who is Today’s Google Doodle? The Story of Ousha the Poet
The Emirati poet was born in 1920 and was regarded as one of the great Nabati poets of the 20th century…
Who is today’s Google Doodle? Introducing Ousha the Poet
In the lead up to the UAE’s National Day, Google is serving us with a bit of cultural insight…
Users work up this morning to see that Ousha the Poet is today’s Google Doodle; a sketch-like graphic of the historical Emirati woman takes center stage on the search engine’s homepage.
“Today’s Doodle celebrates Emirati poet Ousha Al Suwaidi, who is widely considered one of the most significant Arab poets,” Google says. “She paved the way for female poets in the Middle East.”
Who was Ousha Al Suwaidi a.k.a. Ousha the Poet?
According to her official website, Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi was born in 1920 in Al Ain and was regarded as one of the great Nabati poets of the 20th century.
She’s often referred to as Fatat Al-Arab (Girl of the Arabs) and was greatly influenced by classic poets Al Mutannabi, Abu Tammam, and Al Ma’ari, and local Nabati poets including Al Majidi bin Thahir, Rashid Al Khalawi, Saleem bin Abdul Hai, and Mohsin Hazzani.
Exploring themes like love, wisdom, nostalgia, praise, and patriotic sentiments, her work was written in classical Arabic. Ousha the Poet is also known for taking inspiration from the natural environment; she often references the local land and sea within her work, along with the history of the UAE.
Ousha the Poet won many awards for her work including the Abu Dhabi Award, presented by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, and the Abu Dhabi Festival Award by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF).
She passed away in 2018.
“Our country has lost a great symbol of literature, wisdom and poetry… Fatat Al Arab has left behind treasures of literature and poetry which will continue to tell her biography and she will always be remembered,” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said upon her passing.
Those wishing to learn more about her work can visit her website or Instagram account, dedicated to her work.
Lead image courtesy of Google