How can people understand the Arab world without reading its literature?
The launch of the International Prize for Arabic Literature 15 years ago has had a major impact on world literature. Thanks to its success, stories of and about the Arab world are available internationally in translation, and books about and from the region have grown tremendously.
This special panel session commemorates the 15th anniversary of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), featuring a lineup of renowned authors who have been awarded this prestigious literary prize.
This session is a unique opportunity to hear from some of the most influential voices in contemporary Arabic literature. Through a lively discussion moderated by Bilal Orfali, the authors will reflect on their writing experiences and the impact of IPAF on their careers.
From discussing the cultural significance of writing in Arabic to sharing their creative processes, this panel promises to be an enlightening and engaging event for anyone interested in the power of literature to inspire and transform.
Whether you are a longtime fan of Arabic literature or simply curious about the writers shaping the region's literary landscape, this panel session is an event not to be missed.
Saud Alsanousi is a Kuwaiti writer and novelist, and a member of the Kuwaiti Writers Association. He was also a member of the Kuwaiti Journalists Association from 2009 to 2011. He graduated with a degree in commercial studies in 2003.
Alsanousi has published many fictional works, including Prisoner of Mirrors, The Bamboo Stalk, and Saleha’s Camel. He also has many theatrical works, including the play Neo Jibla and a new version of the musical Memoirs of a Sailor. His works have been translated into many languages, including English, Italian, Persian and Turkish. He also won many prestigious literary awards, including the fourth Laila al-Othman Prize for novels and short stories by young writers for The Prisoner of Mirrors and the State Incentive Award in literature for The Bamboo Stalk.
Jordanian Novelist
Zahran Alqasmi is an Omani poet and novelist. He has published four novels, ten poetry collections and two short stories collections.