The eighth edition of the Asia Djabbar Grand Prize for Novel will take place in Algiers on Thursday at the International Conference Center "Abdelatif Rahal". The event is a literary ceremony that honors a selection of Algerian names in the novel and literary creation. The shortlist of nine novels was announced on September 14, evenly distributed among Arabic, Amazigh, and French languages, out of 155 submissions.
The shortlisted works in Arabic include "Arachash al-Dam" by Hussein Aalam, "Al-Rafraf... Sirat al-Jabal al-Asaturiyah" by Sarah Muhammad Maerish, and "Aam al-Rahma" by Khair Shwar. In Amazigh, the competing novels are "D Asrdff" (Tlemtsat) by Shabha Ben Qana, "Tigri n Tewrdat" (Cry of Life) by Saham Harikan Sheikh, and "Agus" (The Belt) by Farida Sahwi. The French category features "Partout le Ciel est le Meme" by Hajar Bali, "Aminouri" by Sarah Haidar, and "Ce que la Mort ne m'a pas pris de toi" by Hassni Kitouni.
The nominated works intersect around themes of memory, history, and social transformations that Algeria has experienced, along with other issues. They were selected from among all the works submitted for the prize. The jury for this edition consists of ten members, including academics, novelists, and specialists in literature, translation, and sociology, led by Hakim Miloud.
The Asia Djabbar Grand Prize for Novel was established in 2015 to commemorate the name of the Algerian writer and academic Asia Djabbar (1936-2015). The prize is awarded to the best novelistic work in Arabic, Amazigh, and French. It is organized by the National Establishment for Communication, Publishing, and Advertising "ANEP", aiming to promote Algerian literary creation and introduce it locally and internationally.
The seventh edition, organized in 2024, awarded In'am Bioud in Arabic for the novel "Hawariya", Al-Hashmi Krash in Amazigh for "1954, Telalit n Ousirm", and Abdelaziz Othmani in French for the novel "Le Croissant Lune". The prize reflects the richness and diversity of the national novelistic scene.
The event is expected to bring together a selection of Algerian literary figures and enthusiasts. The ceremony will honor the shortlisted authors and announce the winners of the eighth edition. The Asia Djabbar Grand Prize for Novel has become a significant literary event in Algeria, promoting and celebrating literary creation.
The eighth edition of the Asia Djabbar Grand Prize for Novel is a testament to the country's vibrant literary scene. With its diverse range of competing works, the prize continues to encourage and recognize Algerian literary talent. The event will take place on Thursday at the International Conference Center "Abdelatif Rahal" in Algiers.
Key points
- The eighth edition of the Asia Djabbar Grand Prize for Novel will take place in Algiers on Thursday.
- Nine novels have been shortlisted for the prize, evenly distributed among Arabic, Amazigh, and French languages.
- The prize aims to promote Algerian literary creation and introduce it locally and internationally.
