Al-Ahram, a prominent Egyptian newspaper, introduced its obituary page in 1884, marking a significant milestone in its history. This feature, which initially consisted of a limited number of columns, eventually grew to occupy a whole page and later several pages. The obituary page became a hallmark of Al-Ahram, distinguishing it from other Arabic and international newspapers. According to Dr. Yunan Labib Rizq, the obituary page provided a detailed picture of class and status in 19th-century Egypt.
The obituary page evolved from a news item reporting particular deaths to a public notice page, a unique development in the history of journalism. Al-Ahram's editor, in an effort to present the newspaper as traditional, created a dialectical relation between the page in traditional garb and the newspaper itself. This approach contributed to the newspaper's continuity and aura of venerability, setting it apart from other publications. One editor famously remarked, "Whoever has not had his death announced in Al-Ahram has not died!"
The first obituary announcements in Al-Ahram appeared in February 1884, with the first notice published on February 26, reading: "On Friday, the 29th of the current month, the Atallah family will hold a funeral ceremony for the dearly departed Naguib Khalil Atallah in the Roman Catholic church." The second announcement, published on February 27, reported the death of Francis Misk, a widow from Beirut. These early notices demonstrate the newspaper's shift towards covering bereavements as announcements rather than news items.
A notable feature of Al-Ahram's obituary page was its physical separation from other sections of the newspaper. The bereavement notices were demarcated by two thick lines, which became heavier over time. By August 1884, Al-Ahram began to allocate news reports of death and obituary announcements to one section, marking the birth of the obituary page as a distinct feature. This section was initially located on the news pages but was later moved to the inside back cover, where it remains to this day.
The emergence of the obituary page in 1884 can be attributed to the relative stability of the time, following turbulent years marked by the Urabi Revolution and British occupation. The years 1876-80, during which Al-Ahram appeared on a weekly basis, and 1881-2, when the newspaper was dominated by coverage of the Urabi Revolution, were not conducive to the development of an obituary page. Similarly, the cholera epidemic of 1883, which significantly impacted the newspaper's content, did not provide an environment for the obituary page to emerge.
The concept of an obituary page has its roots in Islamic historiography, particularly in the work of 19th-century historian Abdel-Rahman Al-Jabarti. Al-Jabarti's work, "Aja'ib al-athar fil-taraJim wal-akhbar" (The Marvels and Effects of Lives and Events), began as a form of obituary page, collecting material through visits to cemeteries and consultations with relatives of the deceased. This tradition of recording the biographies of notable figures was later adopted by Al-Ahram, reflecting the newspaper's connection to Egypt's nationalistic and historical heritage.
The introduction of Al-Ahram's obituary page in 1884 marked a significant milestone in the history of Egyptian journalism, providing a unique perspective on the country's social hierarchy and cultural traditions. The page's evolution over time reflects the changing values and priorities of Egyptian society, as well as the newspaper's commitment to documenting the lives of its readers and the broader community.
Key points
- Al-Ahram's obituary page was first introduced in 1884, initially consisting of a limited number of columns before growing to occupy a whole page and later several pages.
- The obituary page evolved from a news item reporting particular deaths to a public notice page, a unique development in the history of journalism.
- The concept of an obituary page has its roots in Islamic historiography, particularly in the work of 19th-century historian Abdel-Rahman Al-Jabarti.
