The arrival of the novel “Mina” by Siddig Haj Ahmed Al-Zaywani to the short list of the “Booker 2023” – Al-Hiwar Al-Jazaeryia

The Algerian novelist Al-Siddiq Haj Ahmed Al-Ziwani “was able to reach the short list of the Booker, through the novel “From us, the resurrection of the desert diaspora”, published in 2021 by Dar Al-Dawaya for publication and distribution.

Today, Wednesday, the International Prize for Arabic Fiction announced the shortlisted novels in its sixteenth session, which included three female writers and three writers from six Arab countries, whose novels are characterized by diversity in content and methods and address current and important issues.

The matter is related to “A Novel from Us” by Al-Siddiq Ahmed Al-Ziwani, “The Stone of Happiness” by Azhar Zarzis, “Qurena Eduardo Concerto” by Najwa Bin Shatwan, “Days of the Rising Sun” by Miral Al-Tahawy, “The Higher Horizon” by Fatima Abdel-Hamid, and “Alienation.” Al Qafir” by Zahran Al Qasimi.

The short list was announced in a press conference held virtually, where Muhammad al-Ash’ari, the head of the jury, revealed the titles nominated for the list, and the committee members, Reem Bassiouni, an Egyptian academic and novelist, participated in the conference; Titz Rock, Swedish university professor and translator; Aziza Al Tai, an Omani writer and academic; Fadila El Farouk, Algerian novelist, researcher and journalist, Yacine Adnan, member of the Board of Trustees, and Flor Montanaro, coordinator of the award.

Each of the six short-listed candidates will receive $10,000, and the prize winner will receive an additional $50,000. The award-winning novel will be announced at a ceremony organized in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

The current edition of the award witnessed the arrival of two writers who had previously reached the short list, namely Najwa Bin Shatwan (for “The Slave Cages” in 2017) and Miral Al-Tahawy (for “Brooklyn Heights” in 2011). Azhar Zarzis also reached the long list in 2020 for his novel “Sleeping in the Cherry Field”, while three writers were nominated for the final stages for the first time, and they are: Al-Siddiq Haj Ahmed, Fatima Abdel-Hamid, and Zahran Al-Qasimi.

Hanan H