Wallada: The Rebel Princess-Poet of Al-Andalus

In this video, we explore the fascinating life and poetry of Wallada bint al-Mustakfi, an Umayyad princess who broke norms in 11th century Andalusia, as well as her love affair with the famous poet Ibn Zaydun.

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Music by:
Filip Holm
Feras Charestan

Sources/Recomended Reading:

Lytle, Molly (2022). "“By God, I was made for Glory” -Wallada bint al-Mustakfi:
How Women Exerted Agency in the Umayyad Dynasty of Al-Andalus". Master's Thesis. University of Chicago.

Menocal, María Rosa; Raymond P. Scheindlin & Michael Sells (eds.) (2000). "The Literature of Al-Andalus". Cambridge History of Arabic Literature. Cambridge University Press.

Omran, Doaa (2022). "Wallāda Bint al-Mustakfi: A Muslim Princess Speaking Passionately and Persistently in the “Palimpsest” of al-Andalus". WOMEN’S STUDIES, 2022, VOL. 51, NO. 2, 120–136.

#wallada #andalucia #spain

[nepeta]

Thank you for making videos about forgotten part of history especially Islamic world. I learn a lot from your channel🙏

[secondsflat]

Having a voice actor recite her poetry was a great touch.

[pkphohog]

To hear the sound of a womans voice speaking these poems of the Real in Arabic is elating and enlightening. Opening. God Willing

[seraphimtofu]

That palm tree line is fire lol - like an ancient rap battle.

[jonstfrancis]

If the World is a peacock then Al Andalus is the tail.

[nzofhull]

You are incredible. The Lost Garden is one of my favourite albums of any music genre of all time - Wallada is one of the most fascinating characters and your dedication and presentation style all make it into a beautiful culmination of top class content. Great Job, Philip.

[AbuSousPR]

25 years ago, I visited Cordoba and stumbled on the monument you finish the video with by accident. It took me a while to recognize what it was, but finally, my mother recognized it. Many thanks.

[zlotamaska]

As an Arabic language student, I must say that this is one of the best of your videos. <3 Much love from Poland

[dakhilaf]

Ibn Zaidun wrote a seething sarcastic letter to one of Walladas many suiters (ibn Abdous, a minister) scolding him for even thinking that he is good enough for her. Ibn Zaidun wrote the letter as if by Wallada. It is one masterpiece of literature.

[عبدالله-نهص]

There are many love stories in Arab history, but the most important are:
1. The story of Majnun Laila, in the city of Laila in Najd’, His name is Qais قيس و ليلى
2. The story of Jamil Buthaina in the Al-Ula oases جميل بثينة
3. The story of Kathir Azza in a village between Mecca and Medina كثير عزّة
4. The story of Antar and Abla, whose tribe was Abs in the Hail region عنتر وعبلة
5. The love story of Al-Buraq bin Rouhan and his love, Laila البراق بن روحان وليلى
6. The story of Tawba bin Al-Himyar and his lover, Laila Al-Akhailiyya توبة بن الحمير وحببته ليلى الأخيلية
7. The story of Majnun Lubna, His name is also Qais. Their love story took place near Mecca. قيس و لبنى

[antoniovittorio]

Thank you for this romantic story . What I love most in this romantic affair is the mystical, spiritual, highly colored and poetical environment in which it took place. If the mystical atmosphere of their epoch was taken out, such an affair would leave me almost indifferent. It is the poetical realm that gives such an intensity and immortality to this ❤story.

[dlbwoodbury]

Thanks for re-igniting my love for the glorious city and culture of Cordoba, where I spent (or misspent) part of my youth❤

[devidaughter]

what a beautifullly made video- so immersive in the aesthetic, architecture, poetry and personalities of this time and place - thanks for taking us on a journey, and for your focus on the herstory of such an amazing woman!

[Nausicaa_]

I just finished the novel : Garanada trilogy, by Radwa Ashour tilling the life of an arab familiy after the falling of Arab rulling of the Iberian peninsula, it was heart breaking and came after that immediately to this video.

[Ameroff]

Fascinating video; I had known of Wallada but have now learnt a lot more about her.

She also fostered female education in Al Andalus.

[jtatdavis]

I'm a hard-core atheist but I found this a lovely gem of history about people I'd never heard of previously - well researched, produced and presented.

[hababalmahi]

This is the best video on the internet, thankful to you, Philip <3

[geordiejones]

I really enjoy learning about places that were occupied by those that seem so distant from what existed before or after or cultures that moved very far and then were taken over. Arab Spain, Roman-Greek Anatolia/North Africa, Hellenistic Persia, Viking England, Gothic Southern Europe, the Vandals, the Huns, the Normans, the Mongols, the Phonecians and of course the many iterations of Sicily. Very cool human to learn about.

[methoali]

Love and poetry - two things that may seem like a rarity these days - but they are not - thanks to people like you!

May Allah bless you for your efforts and bless your channel.

Beautiful work!

Keep going ❤ ما شاء الله

[SleepyGuitarPedals-pbsi]

That beard looks good on you +thank you for this master piece <3