The Chronicles Of A Moroccan Translator Anass M. Rhattouss

By Abigirl Phiri

Worth Noting:

• My name is Anass Mohammed Rhattouss, Moroccan, 30 years old. I have written few poems throughout the years, mostly in Arabic, few in English, and rarely in French. I’m a translator with a penchant for literary texts and styles.
• In my teenage years, I so vividly remember stumbling upon the poetry of Syrian poet, Nizar Qabbani – an invigorating feeling.
• On the professional level, the contracts offered to translators in the Arab/African countries (to my knowledge) in most cases do not value the translator, but rather regards him/her as a mere employee/contractor performing a task and delivering a product whose ownership shall be transferred to the publisher by virtue of the contract.

Translating is a complex job that needs one who has an agile mind just like Anass Mohammed Rhattouss who is a polyglot. Academic wise he has achieved so much in a bid to cement his prowess in the translation world. There is a certain beauty to languages and for the rest of the world to understand these pieces, we need good and dedicated translators like Anass. Individually, he is a creative person who also pens down his own pieces. This gives his work depth because he approaches his translation assignments from different perspectives. On a more personal level, he is a down to earth and accommodating person who is ready to lend a helping hand, listening ear and give a kind word. For that reason, this sets his work apart because it is driven by emotion. Thus, Morocco is endowed with committed literary creatives who will go all the way to offer quality work despite sometimes facing hurdles in their day to day lives.

Please tell us your name and how your journey started in poetry?

My name is Anass Mohammed Rhattouss, Moroccan, 30 years old.  I have written few poems throughout the years, mostly in Arabic, few in English, and rarely in French. I’m a translator with a penchant for literary texts and styles.

Have you won any major accolades for yourself in poetry? Are you a published poet?

Not yet, as my main two translations were out only in the past few weeks; Publisher: Wasm Publishing, Kuwait:

One For the Books (2012) – Joe Queenan; (English>Arabic)

La Fabrique du Consommateur (2023) – Anthony Galluzzo; (French>Arabic)

I have translated 3 best-seller novels into Arabic; Publisher: Le Centre Cultural Arabe, Lebanon and Morocco:

– Things You Save in A Fire (2019) – Catherine Center.

– The Bookshop on The Corner (2016) – Jenny Colgan.

– The Maidens (2022) – Alex Michaelides.

– How To Be Rememebered (2023) – Michael Thompson (currently translating).

Who is your inspiration?

In my teenage years, I so vividly remember stumbling upon the poetry of Syrian poet, Nizar Qabbani – an invigorating feeling. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but I’ve always struggled with ADHD, and those sublime poems would definitely grab my attention, or better yet, my soul, leaving a sweet taste in my mouth while I utter those magical words.

As for writer, Pessoa and Kafka.

Then there’s Carl Jung’s remarkable philosophy and insights.

Where do you see yourself in the near future?

To be honest, I don’t really have a clear picture yet, as the past few years have been quite the roller-coaster for me, with ups and downs and bumps over the road: two B.A. degrees, two career-shifts, few short-term attemps at different jobs, two or three major burnouts. I have somehow survived, 6 translated books, two novels I’m still struggling to finish, and a looming PhD in translation that I have to squeeze into the picture/my life.

But I trust that hardship has made me a resilient man, and that I am finally on the right path. That’s what matters most, right?

 What problems have you faced as a translator?

For one, I’d say that I was disappointed that my first work took almost two years to see the light of day, as it coincided with the Covid outbreak. Plus the economic crisis has weakened an already-diminished purchasing power; therefore, not so many people would read my works, hypothetically speaking. On a different note – or perhaps the same – due to the so-called “slow market, ” two more novels I have translated are still dormant in the cold dark archive of the editor, while I’m currently working on my fourth.

On the professional level, the contracts offered to translators in the Arab/African countries (to my knowledge) in most cases do not value the translator, but rather regards him/her as a mere employee/contractor performing a task and delivering a product whose ownership shall be transferred to the publisher by virtue of the contract. Status quo aside, the translator is, in this case, for all intents and purposes, but an honorable – and sometimes not so honorable – hustler!

On the bright side, however, my two other books with a Kuwaiti publisher are already available mostly in the Gulf Region, and they are being noticed and talked about on X (fka Twitter), which provides the fuel I need to keep growing as a translator and build my own readership.

Eventually, I hesitate to list ADHD (or being a neuro-divergent) as a struggle. Well, it definitely is and has been so for most of my life! Still, it remains a double-edged sword, blessing me with an incredible laser-focus and super-productivity when my environment is quiet and quite under control. Al Hamdolillah (Praise be To God).

Share with us one of your best poetry piece

My Mourn
A poem by Anass Rh. Al-Gharib

My mourning for her is nothing but
a few words;
For the muteness of one..
Of the Two Singing Birds.

Letters – glued with blackening grief,
In the colour of a white jasmine wreathe,
Upon her gravestone that one can read:
“A true friend, a lover, and a companion”,
was she indeed.

O quill! You may weep,
As you wish
– if you wish;
With utter ease,
Your indifferent inky tears.

Then grant me a moment of silence,
To cast a spell,
And a silent farewell
‘Please, tell me that you will!’

Would quietness be convenient?
With a ghost of putrid tears;
– I never drop while having my evening coffee,
In quite a perfect peace.

At the end,
Solitude is my eternal friend.
Not sorrow, remorse or pain;
I won’t be tempted by our maiden
intact bottle of champagne.

O quill!
Unbridle your impish dance!
The blank existence is immense.
Just dance..
On my palm n’ fingers;
Till’ the epilepsy ceases.
N’ once there’s no more fright,
Shall you be my friend for tonight.
For I only have my own self company;
Like most of my nights.

Alone was I born.
Alone will I fade away.
Far… as a weary star,
At the heart of the sky.
Kindly share your social media handles

Facebook/Instagram: Anass M. Rhattouss

LinkedIn: Anass Rhattouss

X (Twitter): أنس محمد غطوس

Any word of advice to others who would want to venture into translation

I’d say that passion is a sine qua non, as well as competence and the constant willingness to learn, which goes without saying for a conscientious person. And yes, I believe conscientiousness is a key quality for a translator.

Beginner or experienced, the translator may always encounter quite challenging texts (or even near-impossible renditions), requiring a great deal of investigation… in this case, the tempting shortcuts or deletion will definitely harm the translator – and the text for that matter – more than it’ll serve them. Not to mention that it is a moral obligation to do one’s best to maintain faithfulness.

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About the Author

Abigirl Phiri

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