CURRICULUM VITAE and PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY
1- Curriculum Vitae
(in brief)
Born at Harissa (Lebanon) on May 19, 1954, Naji Naaman is a humanist, a writer and a culture promoter. Nicknamed “the mad of gratis culture”, he is trying to globalize such culture. In order to do this, he offers up his work and his money, and even gets into debts. Owner of Maison Naaman pour la Culture (1979), he established a free of charge series of literary books in 1991, a series of literary prizes in 2002, another series of targeted prizes in 2007, as well as a literary and cultural salon and a writing workshop. In 2008, he established a chain of public kiosks for free of charge books, and a free of charge library for complete works. He created in 2011 the Naji Naaman’s Foundation for Gratis Culture (FGC), a non-governmental and non-profit organization. He inaugurated, in 2012, “Mitri and Angélique Naaman Commemorative Room”, and launched “The International Day for Gratis Culture” and a “Cultural Tourism” program. In 2013, he is facing a new challenge: “The Writers Museum – Fingermarks”. With more than seventy five titles including several literary works, he is translated into forty two languages. Member of the Arab Cultural Academy, 2015; winner of the International Grand Prize of Poetry, Romania, 2002; he is nominated to several prizes, including the Premi Internacional Catalunya (since 2004). Recipient of a Ph. D. in Law and decorated by the IOISCW, 2014; a tribute was payed to him at the Avetik Isahakyan Central Library (Yerevan), and Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora, awarded him the decoration of the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan, 2015.
2- Personal Biography
Birth
Diplomas
Career
Memberships, Prizes, Tributes and Decorations
Addresses
Hobbies
Birth
Born on May 19, 1954 (Harissa – Lebanon).
Son of Mitri Naaman (Poet and Writer, 1912-1994) and Mrs. née Angélique Bacha (1925-2000).
Married on July 19, 1981 to Fadia Tawfiq Al-Hawa (1954), one daughter: Hanane (1982), two sons: Marwan (1987) and Rayyan (1993).
Diplomas
- Auditing and Accounting Degree, Centre Supérieur d'Études Commerciales (CEC, Centre Belge), Beirut, Lebanon (1977);
- B.Sc. (Bachelor in Commercial Sciences), Holy Spirit University, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon (1979);
- LLB (Bachelor in Law), Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon (1979);
- BA (Bachelor in History), Holy Spirit University, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon (1979);
- Master in Law (equivalence), University of Nantes, France (1979);
- Master in Political Science (equivalence), La Sorbonne University, Paris, France (1979);
- Master in History (Diplôme d'Études Appronfondies en Histoire), DEA, University of Nantes, France (1980).
- Ph. D. in Law, IOISCW, 2014.
Career
Formerly:
- Freelance journalist, joined Al-Jumhur magazine, Beirut (1970-74);
- Executive, joined the Jordan National Bank, Beirut (1973-74);
- Teacher of Arabic and French, École Professionnelle Pauliste, Jounieh, Lebanon (1974-77);
- Teacher of Management, Economics and Commerce, Collège Central, Jounieh (1978-79);
- Teacher of Management, Economics, Commerce and French, Centre International des Sciences Techniques (CIT - Dora – 1980-85);
- Director, Les Éditions Arabes (Publishing house – Lyon-France and Beirut-Lebanon, 1978-79);
- Founder and Editor-in-Chief and principal author, Siyassa wa Strategia (1981-2007); The Arab World (1985-2007), and As-Sihafa wal-I’lam (1987);
- Founder, Markaz at-Tarbiya at-Tiqaniyya (Technical Center – Ajaltoun, 1987);
- Founder, owner of Galerie d'Art Naaman (Art Gallery – Jounieh, 1987-1988);
- Founder, owner of Naaman Biographical Centre/NBC, Jounieh (1997-2002);
- Editor-in-Chief, Al-Bouloussiyya (2003-2012);
- Editor-in-Chief and principal author, Umsiyatul-Ahad series (2004-2015).
At present:
- Founding member and director, Dar Na'man Lith-Thaqafa (Maison Naaman pour la Culture – Publishing house, Jounieh, Lebanon, 1979); owner of the said publishing house (since 1983);
- Founder, owner of Naaman Translation Bureau, Jounieh (since 1991);
- Director, Bureau Pédagogique, Saint Paul High School, Faytroun, Lebanon (since 2003);
- Professor of Higher Arabic, Saint Paul High School (since 2004) and Saint Paul Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Harissa (since 2005);
- President and Founding Member, Naji Naaman’s Foundation for Gratis Culture/FGC – A non-governmental and non-profit organization (since 2011).
Memberships, Prizes, Tributes and Decorations
- Founder, Al-Harakatul-Insaniyya (The Humanitarian Movement, 1971);
- Founder, Wahdatul-Insanil-‘Alamiyya (The Universal Unity of Mankind, 1976);
- Member, Lebanese Publishers Association, 1979;
- Founding member, Al’Yanbu’ (Charity Association, 1991);
- Winner of the International Grand Prize of Poetry (Romania, 2002);
- Nominated to several prizes, including the Premi Internacional Catalunya (since 2004);
- Refused several prizes and titles, including The World Medal of Freedom (2006);
- Decorated by the IOISCW, 2014;
- A tribute was payed to him at the Avetik Isahakyan Central Library (Yerevan – Armenia, 2015);
- Hranush Hakobyan, Armenian Minister of Diaspora, awarded him the decoration of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, 2015;
- Member of the Arab Cultural Academy, 2015.
Addresses
Professional:
Maison Naaman pour la Culture and/or Naji Naaman’s Foundation for Gratis Culture
P.O. Box 567 – Jounieh (Lebanon)
Telephone & facsimile: 00961-9-935096
Web Site: www.najinaaman.org
E-mail: info@najinaaman.org
Web Page: http://www.facebook.com/naji.naaman
Private:
44, New Suhayleh, Kisrawan (Lebanon)
Telephone: 00961-9-235069
Mobile: 00961-76-132702
Hobbies
Collector; painting.