Jalal Barzanji

Jalal Barzanji (July 1, 1953) is a contemporary Kurdish poet, writer and activist known for his multifaceted contributions to literature and culture, in Iraqi Kurdistan and Canada.

Barzanji served on the board of Writers' Union in Iraqi Kurdistan, fleeing in 1996 due to the Iraqi-Kurdish Civil War. In Canada, he and was appointed as the PEN Canada Writer-in-Exile in 2007. An Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D. Litt.) recipient of the University of Alberta, he was also inducted into the Edmonton City Hall of Fame in 2015 for contributions in Art and Culture.

Barzanji has published numerous books of poetry in English and Kurdish. His critically acclaimed memoir, "The Man in Blue Pyjamas" was published by University of Alberta Press in 2011. In the memoir Barzanji writes about his imprisonment in 1986–1989, during which he endured torture under Saddam Hussein’s regime due to his literary and journalistic achievements—writing that openly explores themes of peace, democracy, and freedom. For those three years, Barzanji wrote only on scrap paper, smuggled into his cell. He wrote his memoir during his time as the first Writer in Exile of PEN Canada.

Early life
Kurdish poet and journalist Jalal Barzanji was born in 1953 in Ashkaftsaqa, a remote village situated in Northern Iraq, within the region of Kurdistan. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but is listed as July 1, as the Iraqi government in power assigned birthdays to Kurdish citizens. His formative years were spent in a secluded village, where the establishment of the village's inaugural school came when he was 7 years old. Barzanji reflected on his upbringing as being enveloped by serene landscapes, remarking on the simplicity of life amidst towering mountains. Immersed in the oral traditions of his community, he absorbed narratives shared by elders during gatherings around firesides or atop rooftops, fostering a rich imaginative realm.

Following the destruction of his familial home in Ashkaftsaqa during his first-grade year, an event precipitated by Iraqi military actions subsequent to an evacuation, Barzanji embarked on a perilous journey to settle in the Kurdish capital, Erbil. In Erbil, he found solace in the city's renowned library, dedicating extensive hours to reading and intellectual pursuits. This passion for knowledge propelled him towards attaining a degree in education, subsequently assuming roles as a teacher, leader, and mentor for emerging writers. His editorial tenure at The Voice, a magazine scrutinized and ultimately shuttered by Iraqi authorities for purportedly disseminating anti-government sentiment, underscored his commitment to themes of freedom, self-determination, and aesthetic appreciation.

Despite enduring harsh censorship, Barzanji authored five acclaimed volumes of poetry, a pursuit that eventually led to his incarceration by Iraqi security forces.

Relocation to Canada
Faced with escalating tensions and potential retribution, he relocated his family to Edmonton in 1998. There, Barzanji integrated himself into the local literary milieu, engaging with organizations such as The Writers Guild of Alberta and the Edmonton Stroll for Poets Society. In 2007, he assumed the inaugural role of PEN Writer-in-Exile, leveraging his expertise as a writing coach and mentor while garnering accolades for his literary memoir, "The Man in Blue Pyjamas." Honored as a 2015 inductee into Edmonton's Hall of Fame for his profound contributions to the arts and culture, Barzanji furthered his advocacy efforts through initiatives like "The Kurdish Canadian Friendship Association," embodying principles of integrity and multicultural understanding within Edmonton's diverse communities. In 2022 he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from the University of Alberta.

Works

 * 1979: The Dawning of the Evening Snow, Collection of Poems
 * 1985: Unwarm, Rashid Publishing, Baghdad
 * 1996: War, Gew Books, Iraqi Kurdistan
 * 2002: Holy Rain, Kurdish Ministry of Culture Publishing
 * 2006: Memory of a Person Under the Wind, Bedrxan Publishers, Iraqi Kurdistan
 * 2007: On Going back to Birth Place, Mnara Publishers, Iraqi Kurdistan
 * 2011: The Man in Blue Pyjamas, University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta
 * 2015: Trying Again to Stop Time, Selected Poems, University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta