Egyptian poet Farouk Shousha, a winner of the state's Nile Award for Literature, died on Friday morning at the age of 80 according to a statement by the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo.

Shousha, who was known for his rigorous language and quiet melodious voice, was one of the country's best-known contemporary poets.

He was born in Damietta in 1936 and graduated from Ain Shams University in 1956; he went on to work for Egyptian radio and as an assistant professor of Arabic literature at his alma mater.