Tag Archive | Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
Rebel Poet: Benjamin Zephaniah discusses the life of Abul ʿala Al-Maʿarri (أبو العلاء المعري), the medieval Arab vegan philosopher poet
(24 min) Play or download (22 MB MP3) (other formats) (via iTunes)
Rebel Poet: The Life of Al-Ma’arri
A thousand years ago, Al-Ma’arri was writing Arabic poems of extreme complexity, promoting a rational ideal and most remarkably, making an ethical case for veganism. We tell the story of his life in conversation with fellow vegan rebel poet Benjamin Zephaniah.