The Translation of Mahi Binebine: Cultural Challenges and Humanistic Resonances

Abstract

Moroccan writer and painter Mahi Binebine amplifies the voices of the marginalized — migrants, the poor, and the oppressed. His novels, translated into multiple languages, blend social realism, poetry, and Moroccan oral traditions. Yet, how can translators convey the raw emotion of his words, the rhythm of dialect, or the political urgency of his stories?

This article examines the challenges of translating Binebine’s work, torn between cultural authenticity and readability. The study also explores translators’ strategies: Should culture-specific terms like "djellaba" be kept or glossed? How to preserve Binebine’s storyteller’s voice, deeply rooted in Moroccan Arabic? Finally, it questions how translations shape his global reception, balancing cultural reclamation (Arabic editions) and cross-cultural dialogue (English translations).

Keywords: Translation, challenges, reception, impact, dialogue.

Received Date: June 19, 2026

Accepted Date: July 10, 2026

Published Date: August 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/866