The Mahjar movement (Arabic: المهجر, also called "the Arab diaspora") was a literary movement that began in the early 1900s. It was started by Arabic-speaking writers who moved from Ottoman-ruled Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine to the Americas. This movement became active in the 1910s. Like writers in the earlier Nahda movement (also known as the "Arab Renaissance"), Mahjar writers were inspired by their experiences in the Western world. They helped renew Arabic literature, and some were called "late Nahda" writers. These writers, who lived in South America and the United States, played an important role in developing the Nahda in the early 1900s. Kahlil Gibran was the most well-known poet of the Mahjar movement.
North America
As stated by David Levinson and Melvin Ember, the goal of maintaining Arab cultural identity among immigrant communities in North America was supported early on. Educated immigrants started Arabic-language newspapers and literary groups in New York and Boston to promote poetry and writing. These efforts aimed to preserve and strengthen Arabic cultural traditions. In 1892, the first Arabic-language newspaper in America, Kawkab America, was created in New York and continued until 1908. From 1913 to 1918, the first Arabic-language magazine, Al-Funoon, was published in New York by Nasib Arida. This magazine provided a platform for young Mahjari writers.
The Pen League (الرابطة القلمية), the first Arabic-language literary society in North America, was formed in 1915 or 1916 by Nasib Arida and Abd al-Masih Haddad. It was later reorganized in 1920 by a larger group of Mahjari writers in New York, led by Kahlil Gibran. These writers had been working together since 1911. The group ended its activities after Gibran's death in 1931 and when Mikhail Naimy returned to Lebanon in 1932.
According to Naimy, the Pen League’s main goals were to move Arabic literature away from a situation of not changing and copying others, and to give it new energy to help build Arab nations. Naimy wrote the group’s rules, which included these objectives.
Literary historian Nadeem Naimy said the group changed how people judged the beauty of Arabic literature.
Members of the Pen League included Nasib Arida, Rashid Ayyub, Wadi Bahout, William Catzeflis (or Katsiflis), Kahlil Gibran (Chairman), Abd al-Masih Haddad, Nadra Haddad, Elia Abu Madi, Mikhail Naimy (Secretary), and Ameen Rihani. Eight of the ten members were Greek Orthodox, and two were Maronite. Musicians like Russell Bunai were also connected to the group.
South America
The first Arabic-language newspaper in Brazil, Al-Faiáh (Arabic: الفيحاء / ALA-LC: al-fayḥāʾ), was published in Campinas in November 1895. Another newspaper, Al-Brasil (Arabic: البرازيل / ALA-LC: al-brāzīl), appeared in Santos less than six months later. These two newspapers combined a year later in São Paulo. The first Arabic-language literary group in South America, Riwaq al-Ma'arri, was created in 1900 by Sa'id Abu Hamza, who lived in São Paulo. Al-Rabita Al-Adabia was established in Buenos Aires 49 years later, but Arabic newspapers and magazines had already been active in Argentina during the 1900s.
Shafiq al-Ma'luf led the main group of South American Mahjar poets. Other poets included Fawzi Maalouf, al-Qarawi, and Farhat. Unlike the North Mahjari, southern writers focused more on national themes and feelings of missing their homeland.
Principles
Mikhail Naimy's book about literature, Al-Ghirbal (published in 1923), explains the main ideas of the Mahjar movement.