Umar Timol (Mauritius / writes in French) 1970

Umar Timol (Mauritius/writes in French)

1970

Born on the island of Mauritius in 1970, Umar Timor, of Dutch background, writes in French. He studied literature at University College in London, and there became attracted to the writing of Baudelaire, particularly in that poet's heightened use of language.

     Timor's first book, La Parole Testament suivi de Chimie, published in Paris in 2003 uses language in a way inverts meanings, allowing new associations of come forward.

     His second book, Sang, inspired by the work of Aimé Césaire, is a long mystical love song composed in the Sufi tradition. His third collection, Vagbondages suivi de Bleu was published in 2009.

     He also wrote the text for a graphic, Les yeux des autres and his work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Visions of Africa. A novel, Journal de la vieille folle was published in Paris by Éditions l'Harmattan in 2012.

     Timol is a founding member of the Mauritian poetry journal, Point barre, which publishes international poets.

      

BOOKS OF POETRY

La Parole Testament suivi de Chimie (Paris: L'Harmattan, 2003); Sang (Paris: L'Harmattan, 2004); Vagabondages suivi de Bleu (Paris: L'Harmattan, 2009)

For a poem, published in Words without Borders, click here:

http://wordswithoutborders.org/contributor/umar-timol

For another poem by Timol, go here:

https://www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org/en/Festival/25/News/Timol.html