Nawal El Saadawi
ActivistEgypt

Nawal El Saadawi

Creativity is the enemy of authority.

The Story of a Life

Nawal El Saadawi was one of the most fearless feminist voices to emerge from the Arab world and Africa. A physician who worked in rural Egypt in the 1950s, she witnessed first-hand the toll of poverty, patriarchy, and female genital mutilation on women's lives. Her book Woman at Point Zero and her landmark non-fiction work The Hidden Face of Eve were banned in Egypt, cost her job at the Ministry of Health, and put her on extremist death-threat lists — but were translated into more than 30 languages. She continued writing and fighting until her death in 2021 at age 89.

The Milestones

Achievements
01

Author of more than 55 books translated into 30+ languages

1982

Founded the Arab Women's Solidarity Association (1982)

2004

North-South Prize of the Council of Europe (2004)

04

Indomitable Spirit Award — Women's World Summit Foundation

2021

Continued writing and activism until age 89 (died 2021)