Lyrics Alley
by Leila Aboulela
Nominations: Dublin Longlist 2012, Women's Prize Longlist 2011
Date Read: October 2, 2022
Lyrics Alley is a divinely beautiful novel which is an exploration of the distinct contrast for joy and sorrow. This is most exemplified in the lives of Mohamed Abuzeid, Nur Abuzeid and Usatz Badr. Set mostly in 1950’s Sudan, clearly the central focus of this novel is the Abuzeid clan. Mohamed Abuzeid is a very wealthy businessman in Sudan who has commanded a great deal of power and respect from his homeland and its people. Known as a fair-minded man, he supports two wives, four children, and two grandchildren, plus multiple maids, servants and visitors. His household is always bustling and alive.
Mohamed Abuzeid can buy anything his heart desires. He knows how lucky he is to have a wife with one foot in the old-world customs of Sudan (except for the barbaric female circumcision, lordy!) and a modern wife from Egypt that lives in the European way. Waheeba, Mohamed’s first wife is the mother of his sons Nassir and Nur. Nassir is an utter disappointment; he has become a drunk and womanizer even though he’s married with two children. Mohamed is used to getting his own way and buying his way when his authority won’t suffice. When Nur is in his accident and becomes a paraplegic, Mohamed has the bitter lesson that no mattery how much money you have, you cannot buy a repaired body. While Mohamed enjoys the finer things in life, his heart is wrenched by the lifeless body of his son.
Nur Abuzeid, the second son of Mohamed, is coming to terms with an accident that occurred on a beautiful day at the beach. His condition leaves him bereft of the life he once enjoyed – running, playing football (soccer), walking hand-in-hand with Soraya (his almost fiancé), going to university and a promising future in his father’s company. As he nearly succumbs to despair, Usatz Badr reminds Nur that he still has a brilliant mind and can still read and educate himself. Nur begins authoring poetry and after a fortunate meeting with a musician he admires, the musician begins putting his poems to music. Nur accidentally becomes famous and is driven to even further creativity.
Usatz Badr is a glorious character who brings a calmer, wiser eye to the Abuzeid family. Hired to tutor Nur in his youth, he is currently tutoring Mohamed and Nabilah’s two children. After Nur’s accident, Badr visits him regularly, bringing him books, essays and lively discussion. He helps his miscreant cousin to find a job, nearly losing his freedom and job in the process. Usatz has always loved his father – an imposing man in his younger days. The responsibility of caring for him in his elderly years has fallen on Badr. His father is losing his mind and rapidly deteriorating, causing Badr great sorrow. During this time, Badr has a daughter after four boys and his daughter brings him pure joy. Badr is fully aware of the contrast between his sorrow and joy.
Aboulela does a brilliant job of bringing heart and soul to a compelling plot and characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this second work from her (first being The Translator). I am very much looking forward to Minaret.
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