Veteran Egyptian poet and writer Mohammad Ibrahim Abu Senna passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at the age of 87. Renowned as one of the pioneers of free verse poetry in Egypt, his death was announced by his niece on her Facebook page: “My beloved uncle, the poet Mohammad Ibrahim Abu Senna, has passed away. The funeral prayer will be held after the noon prayer at Al Sayyeda Nafisa Mosque, followed by the burial in the family cemetery in Sixth of October.”

Abu Senna was born in Giza Governorate in 1937 and earned a BA from the Faculty of Arab Studies at Al Azhar University in 1964. He enjoyed a long and impactful career in Egyptian radio. In recognition of his significant literary contributions, he was awarded the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Award for Poetry during its 13th edition (2012–2013). The award jury praised Abu Senna for “his profound cultural contributions, showcased through his distinguished literary achievements.”

Among his most prominent books are: “My Heart and the Weaver of the Blue Dress”, “The Sea is Our Appointment”, “Screaming in the Old Wells”, “The Ashes of Green Blades”, “Mirrors of the Distant Day”, “Nile Dances”, “The Rose of the Last Seasons”, “Reflections on Stone Cities”, and “Music of Dreams”. Among his most prominent plays are “The Siege of the Citadel” and “Hamza Al Arab”.

Throughout his career, Abu Senna received numerous accolades and honours, including the Cavafy Award in 1990 for his book “The Ashes of Green Blades”, and the State Award for Excellence in Literary Creativity on October 23, 2001. He was also awarded the University of Stern Prize in Germany for Arabs and Immigrant Literature in 2008. In 2024, he received the Egyptian State Award in the field of literature. Additionally, he shared the 13th edition of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award with Syrian poet Nazih Abu Afash.