Baghdad event honors Abdul Jabbar Abbas, marking 32 years since his passing

BAGHDAD — The Al-Mada Foundation for Culture and Arts commemorated Iraqi critic and journalist Abdul Jabbar Abbas on Sunday with a session on Baghdad’s Al-Mutanabbi Street. The event marked 32 years since Abbas’s passing and brought together literary critics, cultural enthusiasts, and individuals who knew him personally to reflect on his contributions to Iraqi literature and criticism.

Literary critic Fadel Thamer highlighted Abbas’s foundational influence on Iraqi cultural life, particularly his use of the “impressionistic method” in literary criticism, a style shaped by his university professor, Ali Jawad Al-Taher.

“He does not deny being an impressionistic critic,” Thamer told 964media. “He could not tolerate modern methodologies and their constraints, relying on personal taste and individual sensibility, supported by a beautiful linguistic and stylistic richness. His style easily addressed both the intellect and heart of the reader, which is why he found many readers, supporters, and admirers.”

Abbas, born in 1941 in Hilla, graduated from the College of Arts in 1964. His first book, a study of the poet Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab, was published in 1971, followed by “Mirrors on the Road” in 1975 and a seminal book on story criticism in 1980, which he described as “the product of a love for the art of storytelling.”

Abbas worked as an editor for Al-Rased newspaper and contributed articles to journals such as Al-Adab and Al-Kalima. Despite his modest upbringing, Abbas supported his family by working with his father at a grocery store. He passed away in 1992.

A critical voice in the 1960s Iraqi literary scene, Abbas collaborated with notable figures like Thamer, Yassin Nassir, and Shujaa Al-Ani, championing non-academic modernism. Ahmad Al-Dhafiri, director of the session, highlighted Abbas’s role in developing Iraqi literary criticism, noting that Abbas avoided political affiliations, which kept him out of official positions.

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