Literary prizes confer greater legitimacy to African writers (Congolese novelist)

by times news cr

2024-04-22 10:09:15

The Congolese poet spoke during a meeting on the theme “What the literary prizes say about us”, organized as part of the 7th African Book Festival of Marrakech (FLAM), which runs until February 11.

Notwithstanding the underbelly of their award in the West, these literary prizes confer greater legitimacy and fame to African writers, which allows them to disseminate their messages to the general public, he added.

The Congolese poet, who has won several prestigious prizes, including the French Renaudot prize in 2006, explained that readers in the West consider that a literary work which wins a prize awarded by an official body is a work of value and which deserves recognition. be read, specifying that award-winning African written literature brings foreigners closer to the continent’s issues.

He also noted the great responsibility that falls to the winner of a literary prize.

For his part, the Algerian novelist Ouassini Laâraj indicated that if a literary prize does not make its winner a great writer, it nevertheless offers him the opportunity to establish himself on the literary scene of his country and in the world.

“When a writer wins a literary prize, it means that there is something unusual in his work that can be shared and passed on to others,” he added.

Supported by the “We Art Africains” association, the African Book Festival aims to celebrate African literature and culture, offering audiences of all ages the opportunity to take part in the event and have free access to the all the reception sites, with a view to bringing culture and art closer to the public.

For this second edition, the programming offers themes reflecting the scientific and editorial news of Africa and devotes a particular place to the reactivation and consolidation of memories and links which unite all Africans wherever they are.

Musical works and poetic readings are also offered.

The festival is attended by several figures of African literature such as the Angolan José-Eduardo Agualusa, the Moroccans Leïla Bahsaïn, Ali Benmakhlouf, Siham Bouhlal and Yasmine Chami, as well as the Senegalese Souleymane Bachir Diagne, the Tunisian Sophie Bessis, the Comorian Touhfat Mouhtare, Mauritanian Fanta Dramé, Congolese Wilfried N’Sondé, Algerian Saad Khiari and Mozambican Mia Couto.

2024-04-22 10:09:15

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