Badr Bin Abdulmohsen

His Royal Highness Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1948 - 2024) is a poet and a visual artist. He served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts, and was known as 'Word Engineer' and 'al-Badr'.

He is one of the pioneers of narrative poetry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He witnessed the transformations of Saudi poetry and song, with his poems being sung by a selection of Arab artists such as Talal Maddah, Mohammed Abdu, and Abadi al-Johar. He has written musical plays and long poetic stories for the National Heritage and Cultural Festival 'al-Janadriyah' including the operettas of The Knight of Unification, and Imams and Kings.

He wrote a poem for Saudi Founding Day, titled "Ya Hadi al-Eis," which was sung during the first celebration of Founding Day in 2022. Additionally, he composed a musical play for the Founding Day celebration in 2024, titled "Qisat al-Auja," which narrates the history of Diriyah in al-Turaif, in partnership with Diriyah Gate. He presented the poem "Hulm" on the ninety-second Saudi National Day, while the poem "Lana Salman" was delivered for the occasion of the ninety-third Saudi National Day.

He was born in Riyadh City on April 29, 1949. He was raised by his father and received his initial education there. Then he moved to Egypt and completed his primary and preparatory education. Afterward, he returned to Riyadh before traveling to the United States of America, where he pursued his secondary education. Later, he continued his studies in fine arts in England. He commenced his career as a visual artist, subsequently delving into poetry. Over the years, he became renowned for his contributions to Saudi music, having authored several sung poems that evolved into popular Saudi songs.

Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen wrote dozens of poems. His first poem to be sung was 'A'tini al-Mahabah', performed by Talal Maddah in 1968. Other sung poems are: Ya Tifla Taht al-Matar, Zaman al-Samt, Saʿb al-Su'al, Suwalif Layl, Allah Rrid Khatak, Laylat Tamrin, al-Maw'id al-Tani, Najma wa Nahr, Dimat, Ya Sahibi, Qassat Dafayerha, Sayyidi Qim, al-ʿitr, and Shua'a.

Mohammed Abdu sang his work: Hasayef, Khata', Basmat al-Dhay, Aba'tezer, Rasayel, Markab al-Hind, Sawtak Yunadini, Rudi al-Salam, Kolak Nazar, Jamrat Ghadha, Arfod al-Masafa, al-Layli al-Wadh, al-Fajr al-Ba'id, La Tejrahini, Majnounha, Ramad al-Masabih, Fawq Ham al-Sahab, Allahu Ahad, Ana Min Hal-ard, and Hadithina.

Among his songs sung by Abdel Rab Idris: Leila Law Baqi Leila. Abadi al-Johar sang: Sawalef Rihlati, Ma Abih, Kafak Ghurur, Mazhariya, Maraya, and Ala al-Mihaf. Abdul Majeed Abdullah sang: Takhayal, Ma Golteli, 'atash, Mawt wa Milad, La T'alimni, and A'qad Sadaqat Bil-nazar. Abdul Karim Abdul Qader sang: Zamay Ant, al-Jirah, and Yatri Alayh al-Wala. Rashed al-Majed sang: al-Musafer, while Khalid Abdulrahman sang: Layl al-Tajafi and Aqd wa Siwar.

He presented several poetry evenings inside and outside the Kingdom, including the Bahrain Poetry Evening in 1988, the Riyadh Poetry Evening in 2017, and the Paris Poetry Evening at UNESCO headquarters in 2019. In 2019, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud bestowed the King Abdulaziz Sash to him in recognition of his contributions to the fields of culture and arts.

The General Entertainment Authority honored Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen in November 2019 for his contributions to Saudi poetry and literature. As part of the Riyadh Season evenings activities, the "Laylat al-Badr" event was held, and it was announced that the theater built specifically for this occasion would be named the “Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen Theater.” He also presented a poetry evening in Qassim at the King Khalid Cultural Center on January 20, 2023, and another poetry evening at the King Abdulaziz World Cultural Center (Ithra) in Dhahran on March 20, 2023, titled “al-Badr fi Ithra.”

Prince Badr published six Diwans (collections of poetry), and they are: Wamd, Shahd al-Huruf, Ham al-Sahab, Lawhat Rubama Qasida, Risala Min Badawi, and Ma Yanqosh al-Usfur Fi Tamrat al-Athq.

He passed away on May 4, 2024.