Ma’mūn al-Shināwī

Biography

Mamun al-Shinawi was a lyric poet, journalist and brother of the poet Kamil.

Ahram’s biographical research names his father Sayyid and describes his work as a Sharia judge and head of the Supreme Sharia Court. His son Nagi recalls a household poetry library and Mamun’s close relationship with his brother Kamil. He describes a partnership in Sout al-Hob and support for Ahmad Adawiyya and Hani Shaker. This is family testimony about his literary environment and production work. Original Apollo pages preserve his signed Al-shir al-dai poem in the April 1934 issue. They document his classical verse, without establishing the date of his first song. In the recollection transcribed by Wagdi al-Kumi, he began sending lyrics to Muhammad Sadiq to compose and sing on radio. He said songwriting preceded journalism. The report names Khedive Ismail Secondary School and the Higher School of Commerce. His son recounts work at Rose al-Yusuf, Akhbar al-Youm, al-Gumhuriyya and Kalima wa-nuss. His dating of the Jarrah qalb column’s return differs from Ahram’s account.