Abu Khalil Qabbani

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Abu Khalil Qabbani (Arabic: أبو خليل القباني‎ / ALA-LC: Abū Khalīl al-Qabbānī; 1835–1902) was a Syrian playwright and composer of Turkish origin.[1] He is considered the founder of the short musical play (the operetta)[2] in Arabic theatre. His play Abu al-Hassan al-Mughaffal caused a wave of protest as a result of his mockery of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and ended with a decree by the Ottoman government to close his theatre and prevent theatrical performances in Syria.[2] Qabbani left for Egypt and produced his plays there until 1900. He returned to Syria and died two years later in 1902.[2] He is considered the "father of Syrian theatre", and has influenced later generations including the famous Duraid Lahham.[2] His brother is the grandfather of Nizar Qabbani.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Sadgrove, Philip (2010), "Ahmad Abu Khalil al-Qabbani (1833-1902)", in Allen, Roger M. A.; Lowry, Joseph Edmund; Stewart, Devin J. (eds.), Essays in Arabic Literary Biography: 1850-1950, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, p. 267, ISBN 3447061413 
  2. ^ a b c d Hamdan, Masud (2006). Poetics, Politics and Protest in Arab Theatre. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 1-84519-106-4.