Voicing the Mediterranean: Home, Identity, and Diaspora in Abdulhamid Bajouki's Uy?n al-Manf? Moro Jaime

Abstract

This article presents a postcolonial reading of Abdulhamid Bajouki's novel Uy?n al-Manf? Moro Jaime (2013) (Eyes of Exile: Jaime the Moor), part of his trilogy, exploring the narrative journey of Said, a Moroccan political activist who migrates to Spain seeking refuge. Employing a close reading methodology informed by postcolonial theory and diaspora studies, particularly the concepts of hybridity, conviviality, and the "third space", the analysis examines Said's experiences of migration, identity formation, and cultural negotiation. The study highlights how Said's interactions with Isabel, a Spanish woman, and other characters, reflect broader dynamics of integration and adaptation. Specifically, it demonstrates how Said navigates the tension between his Moroccan origins and his new Spanish environment, ultimately constructing a hybrid identity that transcends traditional notions of home and belonging. The analysis reveals that Bajouki's novel, through Said's journey and his relationship with Isabel and her mother, promotes a concept of conviviality, echoing the historical spirit of al-Andalus, as a model for intercultural understanding in the Mediterranean context. Through a thorough analysis of Said's experiences, this article contributes to diaspora studies by illustrating the complex negotiation of hybrid identity within a postcolonial framework, particularly highlighting the role of conviviality and the 'third space' in shaping diasporic experiences and challenging traditional narratives of alienation and exclusion often associated with diaspora. The article concludes that Uy?n al-Manf? contributes to diaspora studies by illustrating the complex, fluid, and often paradoxical nature of identity construction in exile.