Dusé Mohamed Ali
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dusé Mohamed Ali (Bey Effendi), (November 21, 1866 - June 25, 1945) (دوسي محمد علي), was an African nationalist. He was also an actor, historian, journalist, editor, lecturer, traveller, publisher, a founder of the Comet Press Ltd. and The Comet newspaper (Nigeria). He was born in Alexandria, Egypt. His father, Abdul Salem Ali, was an Officer in the Egyptian Army and died in active service at the battle of Tel-el-Koiber, Egypt, in the year 1882. His mother was Sudanese. Ali would eventually lose his knowledge of Arabic and contact with his family in Egypt.
Contents |
[edit] Studies abroad
He received his early training in Egypt, but whilst still young he proceeded to England where he was pursuing his education until the death of his father forced him to return to his homeland. Having settled his affairs at home he returned to England again, still as a young boy and as the ward of Canon Berry, he pursued his studies at King's College London.
Ali originally intended to take up the medical profession and had actually started on his medical studies when the news of his father's death came to him. Left to make his choice, he felt strongly the urge to write and also to go on the stage and so he left his medical studies. On completing his studies at the University of London, he went on the stage where he soon distinguished himself and it was not long before he ranked with the foremost actors of his time.
Besides Ali’s strong nationalist and Pan-Africanist views, he was an active proselytizer to Islam, having in 1926 established the Universal Islamic Society in Detroit, Michigan. It is said that this organization was the precursor to both Noble Drew Ali's Moorish Science Temple and Wallace Fard Muhammad's Nation of Islam, and a source for their pseudo-Islamic beliefs and information. This Islamic influence can be seen in Marcus Garvey's motto "One God, One Aim, One Destiny".
The lasting effects of Ali’s social and academic efforts are far-reaching, being seen in not Garvey but in those whom Garvey was mentor to, such as Noble Drew Ali and Elijah Poole (who was reportedly involved with the UNIA's Detroit chapter before joining the Nation of Islam and becoming Elijah Muhammad). Both of Malcolm X’s parents were also members of UNIA. A continuum of claims and beliefs can be found among these movements and their leaders, such as Black Pride, the idea of a land base, Black Supremacy, and return to the primordial religion.
[edit] Actor and Playwright
He was also in the company of Herbert Beerbohm Tree and in Mrs. Langtry's Antony and Cleopatra production, at the Royal Princess Theatre, London.
Mr. Ali also toured England, Ireland and Scotland. He produced Othello and The Merchant of Venice at Hull, Yorkshire in 1902, playing the parts of Othello and the Prince of Morocco, and winning the plaudits of the British Press.
Among his credits as a playwright, he produced, The Jews Revenge at the Royal Surrey Theatre in London, in 1903, A Cleopatra Night at Dundee in 1907, and the Lily of Bermuda, a musical comedy which he produced at Theatre Royal, Manchester, in 1909.
Every production of his received the enthusiastic welcome of the British and American Press, but perhaps the most outstanding of his productions and performances was A Daughter of Judah which was first produced in the Empire Theatre, Glasgow, in 1906. Reviewing the production, the London Daily Telegraph wrote: "Duse Mohamed is an actor of outstanding merit."
He also produced many plays in America where he won fame as an actor. He won fame also in England as a social worker.
He founded the Hull Shakespeare Society of which Sir Henry Irving was the first President; the Anglo-Ottoman Society, London which included Lords Newton, Lamington, Stourton and Mowbray.
He founded and was Secretary of the Indian Moslem Soldiers' Widows' and Orphans' War Fund, in 1915, and among the patrons were Consuelo, the Duchess of Marlborough, the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, Sir Edward Grey, Lord and Lady Lamington, Lord and Lady Newton, the Marquis and Marchioness of Crew, Mrs. H.H. Asquith, Sir Austen and Lady Chamberlain, Lord Curzon, and almost all the members, of the British Cabinet.
[edit] Lecturer and journalist
In 1925, at Detroit, Ali founded the Universal Islamic Society, of which he was President, and in 1926 he founded the America-Asiatic Association. He was a great authority on modern Egypt. He wrote In the Land of the Pharaohs, a history of modern Egypt, published in London and New York in 1911.
In 1911, after the First Universal Races Congress held at the University of London, he founded the African Times and Orient Review in London. As a political, cultural, and commercial journal advocating Pan African-Asian nationalism and a forum for African intellectuals and activists from around the world it drew the attention of a wide variety of contributors. Among the writers in the ATOR were George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, Lord Lytton, Annie Besant, Sir Harry H. Johnston, William H. Ferris and Marcus Garvey. The journal covered issues in the United States, the Caribbean, West Africa, South Africa, and Egypt, as well as in Asia, including India, China, and Japan. Marcus Garvey, who was living in London at the time, briefly worked for Ali and contributed an article to the journal's October 1913 issue. It ceased publication in October 1918, succeeded by the African and Orient Review, which operated through most of 1920.
Ali was a contributor to several leading European and American periodicals and his articles were translated and published in Germany, France, Austria, Turkey, Egypt and Japan. In the year following the demise of the African and Orient Review, Ali traveled to the United States, never returning to Britain. There he briefly worked in Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association movement, contributing articles on African issues to the Negro World, and heading a department on African affairs.
He wrote and published "The Hull Coronation Ode," a history of Hull in verse, in 1902, a copy of which was presented to his Majesty King Edward VII.
In Europe he was recognized as an authority on Oriental affairs, political and social.
[edit] Travels to Nigeria
His first visit to Nigeria was in July 1921. He was accorded a big reception by the entire Lagos Community at the Shitta Mosque and the occasion was historic. He was back in Lagos again in 1931 primarily for the cocoa business. He got back to his old profession and was appointed editor of the Nigerian Daily Times.
On Monday, October 3, 1932, Mr. Ali reproduced in the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, Nigeria, the play A Daughter of Pharaoh which according to The Daily Times "Set a new standard in Lagos entertainment, introducing real stagecraft."
It was not very long before Mr. Ali crossed over to assume the editorial chair of the now defunct daily Nigerian Daily Telegraph having as his immediate assistant Mr. Ayo Lijadu, now editor of the Daily Times. He began publication of The Comet as a weekly newspaper on July 27, 1933. He took great interest in the educational and general welfare of the Muslim community.
He died at the age of 78 following a protracted illness in the African Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria on June 25, 1945. The funeral of Duse Mohamed Ali took place the afternoon of Wednesday, June 27, 1945. It was attended by a large group of sympathizers numbering well over 5,000 consisting of people from various walks of life including political, social and religious leaders.
A short Khutba (sermon) in English was delivered by Mr. L.B. Agusto, B.L., President of the Islamic Society of Nigeria, who paid glowing tributes to the life of the deceased. A short oration in Arabic was also delivered by Mr. D Couri, a friend of the deceased.
Led by the Ansar Ud Deen school children, boy scouts and girl guides, muslim women, the exeutives of all Muslim Societies taking the rear, the funeral procession went through Victoria streets and other prominent throughfares watched by a teeming crowd who lined the Streets to Okesuna Muslim Cemetery where what was once Duse Mohamed Ali, the veteran journalist, author and actor was committed to mother earth.
Wreaths were laid by Madam Gertrude La Page (wife), Mr. and Mrs. A. S. W. Shackleford, Mr. and MRs. V. Renwick, Mr. and Mrs. B Gbajabiamilla, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Ogun and staff of the Nigerian Bureau of Publicity, Miss Moss, The Rosicrucian Fellowship Lagos Group Centre, Young Moslem Society, Federation of Master Printers, Mrs. Otunba Payne, Moslem Reading Circle, and staff of the Comet Press Ltd., Mr. and Mrs. S. H. PEarce and Miss Remi Pearce and many others.
Among those present were Messrs. Herbert Macaulay, Karimu Kotun, J. T. White, Dr. I. Nimbe, Messrs. S. L. Akitola, and Olatunji Idewu (Daily Service), I. B. Thomas, (Akede Eko), Tony Enahoro, (Daily Comet), Delu Akitoye, C. N. Jellicoe Johnson, S.M. Kadiku, M. S. Jibril Martin, Messrs. F. I. George, M. A. Ogun, Morocco Clarke, John Adebayo, Revs. J. A. Idowu, and D. A. Bababunmi.
