Who is Ghojimuhemmet Muhemmet

Biography

Ghojimuhemmet Muhemmet (Uyghur: غوجىمۇھەممەت مۇھەممەت) was born on September 27, 1971, in Guma County, Hoten Prefecture. He completed his studies at Kashgar Teachers’ College (now Kashgar University) in 1998. His literary career began in the 1990s, and by the 2000s his poems had become widely popular among Uyghur readers.

His first published work was the poem “My Paradise” (Mening Jennitim), which appeared in the 3rd issue of New Jade (Yengi Qashteshi) magazine in 1990. From that point onward, Muhemmet became a prolific writer: more than 2,000 poems and prose pieces were published in Uyghur-language periodicals across the region. Around 30 of his poems were translated into Chinese and published, expanding his readership beyond Uyghur audiences.

Over the years, approximately 50 of his poems received recognition and awards. Notable works include “Mashrap Desert” (Mäshräp Chöli), “A Man’s Honor” (Erning Eppiti), “Evil sunshine” (Räzil Apta’p), and “The Dutār Player Woman” (Dutarchi Ayal). These works earned him prestigious honors such as the Khan Tengri Literature Prize, the Köknur Poetry Prize, the Yalquntagh Literature Prize, and the Aqiyol Poetry Prize.

In 2012, Xinjiang People’s Publishing House released his poetry collection “Muqam Enthusiast” (Muqam Khumari). Two years later, in May 2014, the Xinjiang Writers’ Association recognized his contributions by awarding him the title “Contributing Poet in 21st Century Uyghur Poetry.” Toward the end of his career, Muhemmet submitted ten volumes of collected works to the publishing house, which were awaiting publication at the time.

Ghojimuhemmet Muhemmet is remembered as one of the most prominent modernist poets of the Uyghur literary scene. His poems quickly attracted attention for their unique style and emotional depth, and by the 2000s they were widely read in Uyghur literary journals. His poetry collection published in 2012 established him as a major voice in contemporary Uyghur literature.

His works were later translated into Chinese and included in the anthology Flaming Wheats (Koyuwatqan Bughday, 燃烧的麦穗), which brought together modernist Uyghur poets. Some of his poems have also been translated into English, allowing his voice to reach international audiences. His poetry is characterized by bold imagery, philosophical reflection, and a deep sense of cultural identity【uygur.com】.

Persecution and Death

Starting in 2015, Muhemmet was harassed by local police. In 2017, he was interrogated by state security because of his writings. On July 12, 2018, he died while under home arrest, a tragic end that reflects the broader repression of Uyghur intellectuals.

Legacy

Muhemmet’s poetry blends modernist style with Uyghur cultural imagery, exploring themes of love, resilience, and identity. His works continue to be read in Uyghur, Chinese, and English, ensuring his voice endures despite censorship. He remains a symbol of Uyghur literary survival.

Works of Ghojimuhemmet Muhemmet

Poetry Collections

• Collected Poems (Xinjiang People’s Press, 2012)【uygur.com】
• Ten-volume collected works published in Uyghur【uygur.com】
• Muqam Khumari (2012, Xinjiang People’s Publishing House)
• Yashliq Beghi (Youth Garden)
• Sensiz Künler (Days Without You)
• Erning Eppiti (A Man’s Honor)
• Bergi Xazan (Autumn Leaf)

Anthologies

• Flaming Wheats (Koyuwatqan Bughday, 燃烧的麦穗) — modernist Uyghur poetry collection published in China【uygur.com】

Translations

• Chinese translations of selected poems【uygur.com】
• English translations:
  • I Opened My Door (translated by Joshua L. Freeman)【Academia.edu】
  • Featured in All Colors Extinguish Without a Trace: Two Contemporary Uyghur Poets (Harvard Review)【Harvard Review】

Selected Poems (Uyghur + English Excerpts)

• كۆزلىرىمنى يۇمۇپ ئاشقۇچە (“Closing My Eyes Until Love”)【YouTube】
  

  Uyghur: «كۆزلىرىمنى يۇمۇپ ئاشقۇچە، سۆيگۈمگە قەدەم قويىمەن.» English: “Closing my eyes until love, I step forward into my longing.”

• I Opened My Door【Academia.edu】
  

  Uyghur: «ئېشىكىمنى ئاچتىم، سۆيگۈمگە يول قويۇپ.» English: “I opened my door, letting love enter.”

• All Colors Extinguish Without a Trace【Harvard Review】
  

  Uyghur: «رەڭلەر ھەممىسى يوقاپ كەتتى، ھېچقانداق ئىز قالماي.» English: “All colors extinguish without a trace, leaving no mark behind.”

• Poem from Uyghur.com profile【uygur.com】
  

  Uyghur: «شېئىرلىرىمدا ھاياتنىڭ ئاغرىقى، سۆيگۈنىڭ كۈچلۈك ئاۋازى بار.» English: “In my poems lives the pain of existence, and the powerful voice of love.”

• Interview excerpt (Elkitab.org)【elkitab.org】
  

  Uyghur: «شېئىر يېزىش مېنىڭ ئۈچۈن ھاياتنىڭ ئۆزىدۇر.» English: “Writing poetry, for me, is life itself.”

Some of his works found on internet:

• ناتونۇش (داستان) – stranger (epic poem)
• Some of his poems
• ئايغا قاراپ بولدۇم يالىڭاچ – Get naked looking at the moon, alternative link
• پىچاق ئاسقان ئەر – Men with knife, alternative link
• شېئىرلار – Poems
• ئىككى تاش مۇڭدىشىپ ئولتۇرار سايدا – Two stone have a talk stting in riverbed
• ﺭﻩﺯﯨﻞ ئاﭘﺘﺎﭖ – Evil sunshine
• ئىشقنامە – Love letter
• تارىخ – History
• ئاشىقلىق ۋە ئەرك
• غوجىمۇھەممەت مۇھەممەت شېئرلىرى
• Some of his poems published on the magazines, and others
• Some of his poems

Sources

• Uyghur.com – Biography of Ghojimuhemmet Muhemmet (Uyghur)
• Harvard Review – All Colors Extinguish Without a Trace: Two Contemporary Uyghur Poets
• Harvard Review – Contributor profile
• Academia.edu – I Opened My Door (English translation)
• Elkitab.org – Interview with Ghojimuhemmet Muhemmet (Uyghur)
• YouTube – Recitation of كۆزلىرىمنى يۇمۇپ ئاشقۇچە