The young Moroccan-born Catalan writer Najat El Hachmi has been one of the most prominent faces in Catalan literature over recent weeks having won the Ramon Llull 2008 Award for her book L’últim patriarca (The Last Patriarch). In this work, she describes the conflict between a young girl being raised in inland Catalonia and a despotic father; a fictional story that many have seen as autobiographical.
El Hachmi took part in this year’s Anatomia, an event organised by Lletra, the UOC’s Catalan literature website, and the Catalan Letters Institute to take stock and look ahead at Catalan literature through the eyes of some of its leading lights.
Up to the age of 8, you lived in Nador in Morocco . What memories do you have of that time?
I remember a rural life, because we lived in a farmhouse, in a village and were in close contact with the countryside… I also remember the support of a large family and the influence of the oral tradition.
What surprised you most when you arrived in Vic?
The cold, the colours, the light, the greyness –we arrived in October–, the smells… Anyone who makes a journey like that becomes lost in the surroundings.
You studied Arabic at the University of Barcelona . Why did you choose that degree?
Up until then I had the feeling that I had learned a lot about Catalan and European literature, philosophy and history, but, that part of the Mediterranean that had, to a degree, also shaped me, that part given to me by my parents, had been completely ignored.
Would you like to study anything else?
I would like to go on learning all the time, but I’ve been very disappointed with the traditional system… In fact, I studied a subject on the UOC’s @thenaeum and really enjoyed the system, because I’m someone who likes to go my own way: to search, investigate, find books, read… and this system lets you do just that. I’ve been very disappointed with traditional universities. Most of the teaching staff have an antiquated mentality, the structure and system are obsolete, there is no link to the real world and I never had the feeling that I was learning. I remember having lecturers who gave us information, or reading lists, but they didn’t offer me anything else. Whereas at high school, I’d had real guides to learning.
So, you believe in lifelong learning.
I do, I think it’s vital. I also believe in self-directed learning. I would never stop and have things I want to continue with. Perhaps somewhere else, where there are other ways of doing things.
Where would you go?
I’m thinking about the US or Canada.
Until recently you were working at Granollers town council helping people adapt. What exactly did your work entail?
I was supposed to welcome all the people arriving in the town for the first time and provide them with tools to help them with the move. However, because the needs are what they are, I ended up helping them fill out the paperwork to bring the rest of their family over. This is a basic need. You cannot begin a social life until this is sorted out.
Did you come across any cases that reminded you of your own?
Many.
Did you offer any advice to these newly arrived families?
That they learn the language, because the language is what helps you survive.
Do you think there is any country of reference when it comes to welcoming immigrants?
I don’t know much about the policies in other countries, but I don’t think there are any models, because if you create models then you’re almost saying that no more work is needed to improve the situation.
When did you start writing?
As far as I can remember when I was around 11 or 12.
Your latest book, L’últim patriarca, won the Ramon Llull 2008 Award. What does this literary prize mean to you?
Lots of publicity, reaching more readers and having some time and peace to be able to write more.
Do you have a favourite author or work?
Mercè Rodoreda.
What book are you reading?
I’m always reading loads of books at the same time. I’m reading one by a US psychoanalyst and writer, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run with the Wolves. It picks up stories from different cultural traditions and psychoanalyses them, whilst incorporating narrative as well. All told, it is an instruction manual, especially for women. And I’ve just finished Mil cretins, which I thought was brilliant.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to go to the cinema, walk, see films with my son, run… and tennis, but I’ve not been for a while!
And travelling?
I love travelling. I think that travelling is essential in life; being able to get away from the day to day and come back with another view of things. This summer I’m going to Montreal, I’ll be working there for two months, and I’m off to Egypt soon with my son, because it’s something he wanted to do, he loves Egyptian mythology...
Does your son know Nador?
He has only been a few times.