Lectures - Spring 2007

Majnun: the role of the Holy Fool in Middle Eastern life.

Speaker: Marius Kociejowski
24th February

A stock figure in Middle Eastern life, the Holy Fool – or majnun – has been around since the early days of Christianity – being later adopted by the Muslims, especially the Sufis. Marius Kociejowski's talk deals with the positive image of the majnun in Damascene society. He describes his relationship with Sulayman who moves along a path of asceticism strange even to his fellow Muslims. A follower of the great mystic and philosopher, Ibn al-'Arabi, Sulayman seeks to interpret things according to his own lights which at times flicker wildly, as if there is something loose in the connection between medium and source. However, in the short time since Kociejowski published his book, The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool, Damascus has undergone a technological revolution on a scale so immense that the Holy Fool has all but vanished from the contemporary scene. There are implications here for our own society, which allows little room for the Fool.

Marius Kociejowski: In addition to The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool (Sutton Publishing, 2004), Marius Kociejowski has published two volumes of poetry, Doctor Honoris Causa and Music's Bride (both Anvil Press). He has also edited an anthology of traveller's accounts, Syria through Writer's Eyes (Eland), which covers approximately five centuries. He is currently working on The Pigeon Wars of Damascus. He has in addition published many essays.

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