FROM WORDS TO WORLD: THE ROLE OF DENYS JOHNSON-DAVIES IN GLOBALIZING AFRICAN LITERATURE

Abstract
Denys Johnson-Davies (1920–2017), the well-known translator, successfully formed cultural bridges between the Arab world and the West through his translations. He pioneered the transmission of modern Arabic literature to non-Arabic speakers. This paper examines the importance of his translations in presenting the works of prominent African writers such as Tayeb Saleh and Najeeb Mahfouz to international readers, focusing on his ability to preserve the cultural and aesthetic spirit of texts, by analyzing excerpts from (Season of Migration to the North), by the Sudanese British novelist Tayeb Salih and (Miramar), by Najeeb Mahfouz. The study highlights how Johnson-Davies successfully conveyed some postcolonial social issues unknown to the Western reader, such as identity and manifested them to the world in elegant and moving English. His translations were characterized by paying attention to cultural nuances and linguistic differences, which helped to overcome translation’s barriers and reflect the best equivalence. His choice of texts with international themes has contributed to their acceptance by the Western reader while overcoming the challenges of conveying poetic rhythms and local expressions with creative strategies. The paper shows how his translations have changed the stereotype of Arabic literature, presenting it as part of world literature; they were not just a linguistic transfer, but a creative process that reworked texts to reflect shared values. By translatingcontemporary Arabic literary works, Johnson-Davies succeeded in empowering the position of Arabic literature in Western literary studies. This study confirms that his heritageremains a reference in translation studies and comparative literature, encouraging continued research into the role of translation in promoting cultural dialogue in the era of globalization. Keywords - Dennis Johnson-Davies, Arabic Literature, Literary Translation, Cultural Exchange, Tayeb Saleh