Walladah Al-Mustakfi

Known as an 11th century poet, Walladah was born into a powerful family.  Her father was Caliph of Cordova during the time of 1023 and 1131, and historians have recorded that her mother was an Ethiopian Christian slave.   In the midst of a rebellion, her father was poisoned and her family lost control of the government.  When she became 30, Walladah inherited a great deal of wealth and was able to live on her own.  She opened a salon for writers and became a favorite of the reknown Arab poet, Ibn Zaydun.  They had a long and stormy relationship, during which she became known for her own verse and liberated ways which raised the status of women.  

I am fit for high positions, by
God
And am going my way with pride

was a verse found on her clothing. 

Forsooth, I allow my lover to
touch my cheek,
And bestow my kiss on him who
craves it.

Research Links

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Women.com Brings You 100 Women of the Millennium: Walladah Al ...
... Liberated Andalusian Her dad was Caliph of Cordoba, but his daughter Walladah
wasn't willing to behave like a good Moorish girl. She ditched her veil and ...

Al Jisr Mailing List: Re: al-jisr:911- shelter in New York ...
... By God! > > And walk with pride!" > > Walladah bint al Mustakfi c 900ad. > > >

- MegaSpider.com
... you spend this holiday season? Promotion 100 Murasaki Shikibu, b. 978, Writer 99
Walladah Al-Mustakfi, b. 1001, Artist 98 Godiva of Mercia, b. 1040, Activist ...

- women - MetaSpider.com
... you spend this holiday season? Promotion 100 Murasaki Shikibu, b. 978, Writer 99
Walladah Al-Mustakfi, b. 1001, Artist 98 Godiva of Mercia, b. 1040, Activist ...

Evreka women
... you spend this holiday season? Promotion 100 Murasaki Shikibu, b. 978, Writer 99
Walladah Al-Mustakfi, b. 1001, A... http://www.women.com/news/top100/ - dok ...

Women.com Brings You 100 Women of the Millennium: Blanche of ...
... and annexed the vast Midi territory while her boy was off getting thumped by
the Egyptian sultana, Shagrat al-Durr. by Lynn Langway. Shopping. Promotion. ...

GNIR -- February 2000 / Hundred Women of the Millennium
... Parks. Betty Friedan. Gloria Steinem. Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi. Walladah Al-Mustakfi. Hildegard von Bingen. ...

WOMEN AND SOCIETY: An Internet Reference Project
... http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/treasures/american/alcott.html.
Walladah Al-Mustakfi. Francesca Alexander. Florence Ellinwood Allen. ...

Women in Power
... women were soon banned altogether. In Moorish Spain, the poet Walladah bint-al-Mustakfi
rejected the veil and marriage, preferring to host intellectual salons ...

Arab Women in Literature
... Walladah hint al-Mustakfi, famed beauty and daughter of the ruler of Cordova, held
literary gatherings that attracted the best known poets of the day, composed ...

Untitled
... Walladah hint al-Mustakfi, famed beauty and daughter of the ruler of Cordova, held
literary gatherings that attracted the best known poets of the day, composed ...