...particularities lives both reality and legends. Its people are the heirs of civilizations. El Ghitani's numerous literary works, however, are written in Arabic. Throughout his career he has been involved in strong love relationship with his country. When I went to interview him, the affairs of the country were dominating his thoughts, yet he has high hopes that a new generation will be capable of reforming what previous and current generations have corrupted. He envisions this new generation as a long-waited, white pigeon that carries the glad tidings of change, yet he fears that this white pigeon will be coming only after the end of his life.

How has your life in Upper Egypt shaped your current personality?

I spent my early months in Upper Egypt as my mother delivered my siblings and me in Upper Egypt. After delivery, my mother returned to Cairo where my father worked and our family stayed. Our relationship with Upper Egypt was constant because we used to spend every summer vacation there, which started from June until October. So, we used to go to Johayna (my birthplace) every year until year --. Hence, through all my summer time in Upper Egypt, I carne across a way of life that strongly influenced me, especially that my family did not have relationships with a lot of people in Cairo, which, to a great extent, limited my social life. Because of that influence of my life in Upper Egypt, I still today communicate with family and relatives in the Upper Egyptian dialect (The Johayna dialect). I remember when I was at school...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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