Ali El-Maak

Ali El-Maak (Arabic: علي المك‎, full name Ali Muhammad Ali El-Maak (13 February 1937-October 1992) is a Sudanese writer known for his short stories.

Ali was born in Omdurman, Sudan. When he was less than six years old he started his primary education in Kottab Wad El-mostaffa, but because his father moved about as a judge he moved to Arggo in the Northern State, then moved again to El-Fasher in Darfur state (now called North Darfur). When he finished third class the school administration advised that he join the El-woostta, or intermediate school, because of his high marks (at that time in Sudan primary school lasted for four years), but Ali's mother refused, preferring that he finish fourth class. Ali finished the fourth class in the El-Salemeaa primary schoolwhen his father transferred again to Meroë (Merowe) in the Northern State, a place which he later wrote much about.

His interest in writing started in El-ammerria intermediate school in 1947. He was also inspired by his father's library, which contained many books of Sharia Law and its interpretation. Ali made his first attempt at writing in Meroë during the summer holiday, where he edited a fortnightly magazine, writing under the pen name Gesimtty Keeda (This Kismet). His interest in music beganeven earlier when listening to Mohamed Ahmed Sarror, Karoma and Abdallah El-Mahhi. He joined the Wadi Sidenna secondary school in 1951.

Ali joined Khartoum University in 1955, graduating from the Faculty of Art with a Bachelor of Arts with honours degree in 1961. He then moved to the United States earning a Master's degree in Public Administration in 1966 from the University of Southern California. Ali returned to Sudan and worked in the Human Resource Department in the Ministry of the Treasury (1961–1970) (Ali worked here since graduating in 1961 and then went to US to study by the government until his return in 1966), also worked as a chief in State Institution for the Cinema (1970–1971), then he worked as a lecturer in Intuition of Public Administration in Khartoum (1972–1973), and then chief and chief-editor in Housing Publishing in Khartoum University (1973–1983). Ali worked as expert and as a professor at Translation and Arabization Unit in Khartoum University (1983–1992). Ali was awarded a scholarship from American Fulbright Institution in 1988, Ali research which auspiced by University of New Mexico focuses on of translated of some Indian American myths to Arabic. Ali works as supervisor with more than 20 postgraduate students in translation (Master and Ph.D.). Ali contributed in many congresses, seminars and festivals around the world including The International Congress of Poetry in Astroja in former Yugoslavia in 1971, The Seventh International Festival of Cinema in Moscow in 1971, The festival of Saudi Arabian Writers in Riyadh in 1983, and The Seminar of International Book in Cambridge University in 1990. His contributed in many unions and councils as example the member of National Council of Art Auspice in 1974 and as same time the chairman of short stories and cinema and novel Committee, The chairman of Sudanese Music (one of the UNESCO branches) (1974–1985), the member of Council of lecturers of University of Khartoum (the highest academic institution in the university) (1983–1992), member of council Arab League Institution for translation in Algeria, the chief editor of Magallat Ala-Addab magazine, and the Chairman of Sudanese Writers Union from 1986 until his death. Finally, he was a member of Council of Art Faculty and member of Research Council of Art Faculty, and member of Central Researches of University of Khartoum.

• 1/Short Stories released by Arabic
• The Petit Bourgeois, translated Al borogoizia alsageera, Arabicالبرجوازية الصغيرة in collaboration with Salah Ahmed Ibrahim (1958)
• On The Village, translated Fee Algareeia, Arabic فى القرية
• The Moon Sitting on the Yard of Its Home, translated Al-Gammar Galis Fee Fanna Darihi, Arabic -القمر جالس فى فناء داره (1973).
• The Climb to the Bottomof the Town, Translated Al-soad Alla Asffel Almedina, Arabicالصعود الى أسفل المدينة (1988).
• The Fever of El-dreiss- translated Homma El-dreissa,Arabicحمى الدريس (1989)
• 2/Essay released by Arabic
• I wonder, do you think The Blind of Al-Ma`arri was See translated Heel Absara Amma Al-Ma'arri, Arabicوهل ابصر أعمى المعرة (1974).
• He had many essay published in many Arab world magazine including Eldohha(Qatar), Rose El-yousif (Egypt), Sabbah El-Khir (Egypt), El-Fayisal (Saudi Arabia), and also in many Sudanese newspapers.
• 3/Poetry released in Arabic
• Town From Dust, translated Medinna meen El-trooab, Arabic مدينة من تراب (1974), translated to English by El-Fatih Mahjoub
• Investigated and researches released in Arabic
• Abdallah Al-Banna poetry, Arabic -ديوان الشاعر عبدالله البنا (1976)
• Khalil Farah poetry, Arabicديوان الشاعر خليل فر (1978)
• 4/Others in Arabic
• Selective from Sudanese Art in Arabicمختارات من الادب السودانى, (1974-1982-1990)
• 5/also contribute in many radio and TV programs.
• 6/Short stories released in English
• The Case, translated by El-Gaddia, published in American International Stories magazine, issue 49, and also The Cloth Chair, issue 88
• He had short stories written in English was published also in American Magazine The Short Stories issue 62 under the title Arabic احد واربعون مئذنة
• 7/Also he had translated many books from English to Arabic including:
• A- Sample from Black American Literature1971.
• B- Guilty land by Patrick van Rensburg, he translated in 1972 in collaboration with his friend Salah Ahmed Ibrahim
• C- Selective from Indian-American Art and their stories, published in many Sudanese newspapers.
• D- He translated a short story written by the great American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald published in El-Faysal, Saudi Arabian magazine No 94 in January 1985.
• E-He translated A Questionnaire for Rudolph Gordon by Jack Matthews
• F-Also translated short story by the title The Cliff written by American writer Charles Baxter from his book of stories Harmony of the world.
• G-Also translated short stories Old Stories from China
• H-Also translated Zeineb The Red Sugar, written by Sudanese writer Jamal Mohammed Ahmed
• 8/He has also translated poetry from English to Arabic:
• Five poems to Garcia Lorca
• 9/Also he wrote and wrote the commentary on the film The Road of Faith and this sixth film from TV serial The Arab which transmitted by Channel 4 of British TV in 1983, and also transmitted by The Cable American private TV channel in New York City in 1988-1989.
• 10/ Essay
• About the Sudanese legend singer AbdelAziz Mohammed Daoud