Ahmad Meshari Al-Adwani

Ahmad Meshari al-Adwani (1923 in Kuwait — 17 June 1990) was a poet and teacher who wrote the lyrics of the national anthem of Kuwait, Al-Nasheed Al-Watani.

In 1938, he graduated from the "al-Mubarakiyah" Secondary School, Kuwait. In 1939 he travelled to Cairo, Egypt, and was admitted into the College of Arabic Language Studies at the Al-Azhar University. In 1949 he graduated from the Al-Azhar University, with the title of "Sheikh". In 1950 Al-Adwani established the monthly magazine Al-Be'thah in Cairo, with his lifelong friend and companion, Dr. Abdulaziz Hussein. Due to lack of funding, however, the magazine was stopped after only three issues. In 1952 he helped establish the "Al-Ra'ed" magazine, published by the Kuwait Teachers Club. He went on to form many other magazines throughout his life.

Al-Adwani worked with many people; among them was his friend, Dr. Abdulaziz Hussein, who was at that time the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, as well as the President of the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts & Letters, to work on designing, founding and implementing various cultural and social programs that would later prove to transform Kuwait from a simple oil-producing sheikhdom in the middle of nowhere into a beacon of social, artistic and educational knowledge in the Arab World. Among these programs was the establishment of Fine Arts Gallery, the Department of Arabian culture and the Department of Musical Culture. He died in 1990 at 67, leaving a home library of literary gold and a stockpile of unpublished, unedited scripts and poems.

Chronology of his life

1923-Born in the "Qibla" neighborhood, Kuwait.

1938-Graduated from the "al-Mubarakiyah" Secondary School, Kuwait.

1939-Travelled to Cairo, Egypt. Admitted into the College of Arabic Language Studies at the Al-Azhar University.

1949-Graduated from the Al-Azhar University, with the title of "Sheikh".

1950-Established the monthly magazine Al-Be'thah in Cairo, with his lifelong friend and companion, Dr. Abdulaziz Hussein. Due to lack of funding, however, the magazine was stopped after only 3 issues.

1952-Helped establish the Al-Ra'ed magazine, published by the Kuwait Teachers Club.

1954-Taught Arabic Language and Literature at the "Shuwaikh secondary school for boys" in Kuwapp.

1956-Appointed as the General Secretary in the Department of Information, (Ministry of Education).

1957-1965-Laid the foundation for, and implemented the material for the Teaching of the Arabic Language Curriculum in the Department of Information, as well as helping in preparing the curricula of other school systems in the Persian Gulf area.

1963-By Amiri Decree, appointed as Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education.

1965-Appointed Assistant Undersecretary of TV and Radio at the Ministry of Information, and then as Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs.

1965-1966-Established the Theatrical Studies Center.

1969-Established the Circular "Min al Masrah al Alemi" (From The World Theatre)

1970-Established "Alam al Fikr" magazine (World of Thought).

1972-Established the College of Musical Studies.

1973-By Amiri Decree, appointed as the Director of the National Council for Culture, the Arts, and Letters.

• From this date, and until his retirement, Al-Adwani worked with many people, among them was his friend, Dr. Abdulaziz Hussein, who was at that time the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, as well as the President of the National Assembly, to work on designing, founding and implementing various Cultural and Social Programs that would later prove to transform Kuwait from a simple Oil-producing sheikhdom in the middle of nowhere into a beacon of social, artistic and educational knowledge in the Arab World. Among these programs was the establishment of Fine Arts Gallery, the Department of Arabian Culture and the Department of Musical Culture.

1976-Established the Higher College of Music, and the Higher College of Theatrical Arts.

1978-Established the circular "Alam al Ma'rifah" (World of Knowledge) which could be assimilated to The Reader's Digest.

1980-Was commended by The Kuwaiti Institute for the Advancement of Sciences for his achievements.

1980- Published his first literary compilation, "Ajnihat el Asifah" (Wings of the Storm), which was a compilation of all the poems he had published over the years, in Kuwait and in Egypt. Over the years, some of its contents were translated into English, French, Italian and Mandarine (Chinese).

1981-Established the "Al-Thakafah al Alamiyah" magazine (Literacy of the World).

1987-Retired from public service, but remained as an advisor to the Ministry of Education's education system.

1990-Died at the age of 67, leaving a home library of literary gold and a stockpile of unpublished, unedited scripts and poems.

1993-A book was published in his memory by the Literati's Alumni, in which they compiled selected pieces of his writings, as well as editorials by many poets, artists, thinkers, theologians all over the Arab world, headlining their relationship with Al-Adwani.

1996-After a considerable length of time and painstaking effort by a team of literaries, headed by Dr. Khalifa Al Wuqayan and Dr. Salem Abbas Kheddadah, and under the patronage of The National Council for Culture, the Arts, and Letters, a second compilation was published, with closing comments by the Council's director, Dr. Sulaiman Al Askari. It was called "Awshal" (Waterfalls), and contained never-before-published poems, as well as poems published in Al Adwani's first compilation.