FEBRUARY 7, 2024 — The Egyptian Society of Authors and Composers today announced the death of the poet and children’s book author Magdy Naguib, after a recent struggle with illness. He was 87.
His death came nine months after the death of his son Yasser Naguib, who died last May.
The poet was born in Cairo in May, 1936, and his poetry played an important role in the mid-century music scene in Egypt, as he wrote the lyrics for many popular songs, including Abdel Halim Hafiz’s “كامل الأوصاف” (Flawless) and Mohamed Mounir’s “شبابيك” (Windows). There’s a translation of the latter on the “Smoking Duck” blog.
Part of the sixties generation, he wrote several of his more famous compositions while in detention at El-Wahat Prison.
Popularly known as the “poet of colors,” he also painted, he was the author of more than 70 books for young readers.
