Yassin Kenni was awarded the prize in the unpublished novels category for his novel “Abata”, while Bouchaib Saouri won the prize in the critical studies category for his work “The Imaginary of Identity in the Arab Novel” .
The 10th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic novels includes six categories, namely “published novels”, “unpublished novels”, “youth novels”, “unpublished history essays”, “literary criticism”. ” and the “Qatari novel”.
The Moroccan novelist Thami Al Ouazzani was named personality of the year by the 10th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic novels (October 13 to 20), as part of the annual tradition of the committee for this distinction aimed at celebrating a figure who left its mark on Arabic literature and the Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture 2024.
The celebration of the “personality of the year” includes an exhibition of photographs retracing the significant stages of the novelist’s life (1903-1972), as well as a meeting on the evolution of the Moroccan novel from its genesis to our times. days, with the participation of the president of the Moroccan Writers’ Union, Abderrahim El Allam and the Moroccan novelist, critic and academic, Zhor Karam.
Al Ouazzani, a prolific self-taught novelist, has multiplied his writings in various fields, from history to autobiography, including novels and meditations, recalls the press release, noting that his works “History of Morocco” (1940), “Zaouia” (1942) and “Le voyage éclair” (1958), among others, testify to his encyclopedic knowledge and his versatility.
Since its launch in 2014, the “Katara Prize” for the Arabic novel has worked to consolidate the presence of distinguished Arabic novels on an international scale.