Hadschi Halef Omar
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Hadschi Halef Omar Ben Hadschi Abul Abbas Ibn Hadschi Dawud al Gossarah, literally hajji Halef Omar, son of hajji father-of-Abbas, son of hajji David al Gossarah, is one of Karl May's literary characters. Hajji means "one who has performed the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca".
Knowing the complete name of Halef is considered fundamental for a true Karl May fan.[citation needed]
Halef is the exceedingly loyal (though not too intelligent) servant, companion and friend, in honored sidekick tradition, of the author's alter ego, German Adventurer Kara Ben Nemsi. Halef accompanies Kara Ben Nemsi through all his adventures in the Middle East from Durch die Wüste to Der Schut. Halef has a special talent for proverbial flowery oriental language and long strings of rather comical curses. But while comical, he is always dignified, never just ridiculous caricature. He is a very devout Muslim, and throughout the adventures with Kara Ben Nemsi he tries to convince him of the superiority of Islam.
After many adventures he became Scheik of the Haddedihn of the great tribe of the Schammar. He is married to Hanneh, the "most beautiful wife on earth", and with her has a son called Kara Ben Halef, who in later novels also has some adventures.
The German disco group Dschinghis Khan also released a song entitled "Hadschi Halef Omar" on their 1980 album "Rom." The entire chorus is basically reciting Halef's name.
[edit] Movie Actors
- At the age of silent movies (1920/21) there have been the first oriental Karl May movies. Halef there was played by Meinhart Maur.
- In the first Karl May sound-movie "Durch die Wüste" (1936) he was played by Heinz Evelt.
- In the Karl May movies of the 1950's actor Georg Thomalla played Halef.
- In the Karl May movies of the 1960's Halef was played by Ralf Wolter.
- In the TV-series "Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi" (1973/75) he was played by Heinz Schubert.
