Tlili, Mustafa
(1937–)

Mustafa Tlili is a Tunisian novelist, UN official, and scholar.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Tlili was born in 1937 in Fériana, Tunisia. He attended the madrasa (traditional school) in his native city and later received a bilingual education at the University of Paris—Sorbonne, where he received a diplôme d'études supérieurs de philosophie. He also studied at the UN Institute for Training and Research and worked for almost thirteen years at the UN offices in New York. Tlili moved to France in 1980, and he was made a Knight of the French Order of Arts and Letters. He headed the UN Information Center in Paris; was the director of the UN information center for France, located in Paris; was chief of the Namibia, Anti-Apartheid, Palestine and Decolonization programs at the UN's department of public information in New York; and principal officer/director in charge of communications policy in the same department.

Tlili became a senior fellow at the World Policy Institute at the New School University in New York as well, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. He currently is a senior fellow at the Remarque Institute of New York University (NYU) and an NYU research scholar.

INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Tlili has published four novels, all written in French. Each reflects in its own way the writer's preoccupation with life's meaning. He is determined to denounce corruption, especially among the aristocracy, whether in the Arabian Peninsula, as revealed in Gloire des sables (1982; Glory of the sands); in Paris, as described in La rage aux tripes (1975; Visceral anger); or in New York, as in Le bruit dort (1978; The noise sleeps). Tlili's fourth and last novel, La montagne du lion (1988; Lion mountain), centers on corruption in Tunisia. Tlili's language reflects a playful anger and humorous cynicism toward the upper classes of society.

In spite of Tlili's global outlook and residence outside Tunisia, he remains strongly linked to the Maghrib (North Africa). His multilingual and multicultural background enhances his novels and reflects a new trend among Maghribi writers who write in French: Instead of being confined to two cultures—Arabic and French—as their predecessors were, they are expanding their horizons. With Tlili it is possible to speak of the beginning of the cultural liberation of the French-educated Maghribi writers.

In addition to his literary output, Tlili has been involved in other activities. While at NYU, he has established the well-received program "Dialogues: Islamic World-U.S.-the West." He also is a member of Human Rights Watch's Advisory Committee for the Middle East and North Africa.

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

In addition to his literary work, Tlili is well known internationally for his expertise about foreign policy, and regularly speaks with radio and television journalists.

LEGACY

Still active, Tlili has been influential in the formation of a new, multicultural (rather than merely bicultural) trend among French-educated Maghribi writers.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jack, Belinda. Francophone Literatures. An Introductory Survey. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Mortimer, Mildred, ed. Maghrebian Mosaic. Boulder, CO, and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001.

                                                 Aida A. Bamia
                                          updated by Michael R. Fischbach

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Name: Mustafa Tlili

Birth: 1937, Fériana, Tunisia

Nationality: Tunisian

Education: Diplôme d'études supérieurs de philosophie, University of Paris—Sorbonne

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

• 1975: Publishes La rage aux tripes (Visceral anger)
• 1978: Le bruit dort (The noise sleeps)
• 1980: Moves to France
• 1982: Publishes Gloire des sables (Glory of the sands)
• 1988: La montagne du lion (Lion mountain)