Abdullah Noman

He is the writer of the Yemeni national anthem and the founder of his newspaper “Al-Foddoul,” the first independent political newspaper.

In faith and love, I am part of mankind,

And I shall march first among the Arabs.

And my heartbeat shall remain that of a Yemenite.

No foreigner shall ever hold dominion over Yemen.

Abdullah Abdulwahab Noman, a writer, and journalist who was born on September 17,  1917, in the district of al-Hajaria, the district of Taiz. He grew up in his hometown and learned the principles of reading and writing by his father and then by his cousin. He also received knowledge in the city of Zabid by Sheikh Abdullah al-Ma’zabi, who was one of the city’s most famous scientists.

Noman was known in the literary circles for the name of his newspaper “Al-Fudhool” which translates to “Curiosity” until his name was overshadowed by his title. The newspaper was published biweekly and sometimes once a month. It continued to be published for five years and despite its short life and limited issues, it is recorded to be the first in the history of  Yemeni press.

Noman was keen to collect his poetry in preparation for its printing, but he passed away before it happens, that’s why his only poetic work (Fayrouzah) was published after his death. His complete poetic works have yet to be printed, which is close to a hundred poems.

The poet Abdullah Abdul Wahab Noman died on July 5, 1982, on his bed in Taiz following a heart attack, at the age of 65.

Yemen used to be, not much of a difference!