The International Poetry Prize "Cité de Carthage" was established to promote Tunisia's literary image, particularly that of Carthage, in the contemporary literary landscape. This prestigious award, organized by the Faculty of Letters, Arts, and Humanities at the University of La Manouba and the Tunisian Association of Hispanists, aims to recognize authors worldwide for their literary quality and international prestige.
Abdelaziz Kacem, a distinguished professor and poet, has been declared the winner of the International Poetry Prize "Cité de Carthage 2026" in the Arabic literature category. He is a professor emeritus at the Sorbonne in Paris and has taught at various institutions, including the Institute of Press and Information Sciences, the École Normale Supérieure de Tunis, and the Faculty of Letters at La Manouba.
Kacem's academic background and literary contributions are impressive. He has taught at several universities, including those in Brussels, Luxembourg, Leipzig, Bordeaux-Montaigne, and Toulouse-Le Mirail. As a poet, critic, translator, and bilingual essayist, he has participated in numerous international colloquiums and conferences, publishing his work in various literary journals and collective ouvrages.
The prize in the Hispanic literature category was awarded to Spanish poet and publisher Basilio Rodríguez Cañada for his body of work. This recognition highlights Kacem's and Rodríguez Cañada's significant contributions to their respective literary fields. The award ceremony took place during the Tunisian-Spanish and Hispanic-American Intellectuals and Writers International Meetings.
Abdelaziz Kacem has authored several poetry collections, including "Nawbat hubb fî 'asr al-karâhiyya" (A Tour of Love in the Time of Hate, 1986), which won the Ibn Zaydoun Prize from the Arab Institute of Culture in Madrid. His other notable works include "Zajals" (Zéjels, 2013), "Cultura árabe/Cultura francesa" (Arab Culture/French Culture, 2002), "El Andalus: vestigios de una utopía" (Al-Andalus: Vestiges of a Utopia, 2013), and "Occidente y nosotros y viceversa" (The West and Us, and Vice Versa, 2016).
Kacem has received numerous accolades for his work. He is a Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit of Tunisia and an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris. In 1998, the Académie Française awarded him the Prix du Rayonnement de la langue et de la littérature françaises. He currently serves as the honorary president of the Arthur Haulot International House of Poetry in Brussels.
The International Poetry Prize "Cité de Carthage" features two categories: Arabic and Hispanic literatures. By recognizing exceptional authors, the prize seeks to foster cultural dialogue and promote literary excellence. Abdelaziz Kacem's win underscores his remarkable achievements in the literary world and Tunisia's rich cultural heritage.
Key points
- Abdelaziz Kacem was awarded the International Poetry Prize "Cité de Carthage 2026" for his contributions to Arabic literature.
