International Prize for Arabic Fiction
The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is a literary prize managed in association with the Booker Prize Foundation in London, and supported by the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi. The prize is specifically for prose fiction by Arabic authors, along the lines of the Man Booker Prize. Each year, the winner of the prize receives US$50,000 and the six shortlisted authors receive US$10,000 each.
The aim of the award is to recognise and reward excellence in contemporary Arabic fiction writing and to encourage wider readership of quality Arabic literature in the region and internationally. The prize is also designed to encourage the translation and promotion of Arabic language literature into other major world languages. An independent board of trustees, drawn from across the Arab world and beyond, is responsible for appointing six new judges each year, and for the overall management of the prize.
Rules and entry
Only novels are considered for the IPAF. Submissions are made by publishers, which can nominate up to three novels published in Arabic during the previous year. All authors must be living at the time of the award.[1]
Trustees
- Ahdaf Soueif, Novelist and political and cultural commentator.
- Professor Marie-Thérèse Abdel-Messih, Professor of English & Comparative Literature, University of Cairo, Egypt
- Nouri Abid, Publisher, L'Edition Med Ali, Tunisia
- Bachar Chebaro, Publisher, Scientific Arab Publishers, Lebanon
- Dr. Peter Clark OBE, Independent Consultant and Writer, Middle East Cultural Advisory Services, UK
- Professor Rasheed El-Enany, Professor of Modern Arabic Literature, University of Exeter, and Series Editor of Edinburgh Studies in Modern Arabic Literature, UK
- Joumana Haddad, Writer, Poet and Journalist
- Dr Khaled Hroub, Arab academic and director of Cambridge Arab Media Project (CAMP)
- Assia Moussei, President and Publishing Manager of El Ikhtilef publishing house, translator and journalist, Algeria
- Zaki Nusseibeh, Advisor, Ministry of Presidential Affairs – Vice-Chairman, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage
- Margaret Obank, Publisher and Editor, Banipal magazine of Modern Arab Literature, UK
- William Sieghart, Chairman & Founder, Forward Publishing, National Poetry Day, UK
- Professor Yasir Suleiman CBE, Professor of Arabic, University of Cambridge, UK
- Evelyn (Eve) Smith, Company Secretary of International Prize for Arabic Fiction, Company Secretary Booker Prize Foundation, UK
- Jonathan Taylor CBE, Current Chairman of the IPAF Board of Trustees. Chairman, Booker Prize Foundation, UK
Winners and nominees
= winner
2012
Longlist
- Fadi Azzam, Sarmada, Syria
- Rashid al-Daif, Paving the Sea, Lebanon
- Jabbour Douaihy, The Vagrant, Lebanon
- Ezzedine Choukri Fishere, Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge, Egypt
- Rabee Jaber, The Druze of Belgrade, Lebanon
- Nasr Iraq, The Unemployed, Egypt
- Bashir Mufti, Toy of Fire, Algeria
- Hawra al-Nadawi, Under the Copenhagen Sky, Iraq/Denmark
- Sharbel Qatan, Suitcases of Memory, Lebanon
- Mohamed al-Refai, Nocturnal Creatures of Sadness, Egypt
- Habib Selmi, The Women of al-Basatin, Tunisia
- Ibrahim al-Zaarur, The Amazing Journey of Khair al-Din ibn Zard, Jordan
- Youssef Ziedan, The Nabatean, Egypt
2011
The shortlist was announced December 9, 2010, chosen from a total of 123 submissions and a longlist of 16.[2] The winners were announced on March 14, 2011, the eve of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This marked the first time the award had been split, as well as the first female winner (Raja Alem).[3]
- Mohammed Achaari, The Arch and the Butterfly, Morocco (co-winner)
- Raja Alem, The Doves’ Necklace, Saudi Arabia (co-winner)
- Khaled al-Berry, Middle Eastern Dance, Egypt
- Miral al-Tahawy, Brooklyn Heights, Egypt
- Amir Taj al-Sir, The Hunter of the Chrysalises, Sudan
- Bensalem Himmich, My Tormentor, Morocco
Also longlisted in 2011
- Renée Hayek, A Short Life, Lebanon
- Fawwaz Haddad, God's Soldiers, Syria
- Fatin al-Murr, Common Sins, Lebanon
- Ibtisam Ibrahim Teresa, The Eye of the Sun, Syria
- Khairy Shalaby, Istasia, Egypt
- Maha Hassan, Umbilical Cord, Syria
- Maqbul Moussa al-Alawi, Turmoil in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Razan Naim al-Maghrabi, Women of Wind, Libya
- Waciny Laredj, The Andalucian House, Algeria
- Ali al-Muqri, The Handsome Jew, Yemen
2010
The shortlist announced on December 16, 2009 was chosen from a total of 115 submissions from 17 Arabic countries. The winner was announced on March 2, 2010, the first day of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
- Abdo Khal, She Throws Sparks, Saudi Arabia
- Muhammad Al Mansi Qindeel, A Cloudy Day on the West Side, Egypt
- Mansoura Ez Eldin, Beyond Paradise, Egypt
- Rabee Jaber, America, Lebanon
- Rabai’ Madhoun, The Lady from Tel Aviv, Palestine
- Jamal Naji, When the Wolves Grow Old, Jordan
Also longlisted in 2010
- Mahmoud al-Rimawy, Who Will Cheer up the Lady?, Palestine
- Umaima al-Khamis, The Leafy Tree, Saudi Arabia
- Ali Bader, Kings of the Sands, Iraq
- Muhsin al-Ramly, Fingers Pass, Iraq
- Abdullah Bin Bakheet, Street of Affections, Saudi Arabia
- Hassan Daoud, 180 Sunsets, Lebanon
- Sahar Khalifeh, Origin and Branch, Palestine
- Samir Qasimi, A Great Day to Die, Algeria
- Alawiya Sobh, It's Called Love, Lebanon
- Rosa Yaseen Hasan, The Guards of the Air, Syria
2009
The shortlist was announced December 10, 2008 chosen from a total of 131 submissions from 16 Arabic countries. The winner was announced March 16, 2009.
- Yusuf Zeydan, Beelzebub, Egypt
- Mohammad Al Bisatie, Hunger, Egypt
- Fawwaz Haddad, The Unfaithful Translator, Syria
- Inaam Kachachi, The American Granddaughter, Iraq
- Ibrahim Nasrallah, Time of White Horses, Jordan/Palestine
- Habib Selmi, The Scents of Marie-Claire, Tunisia
Also longlisted in 2009
- Ezzedine Choukri Fishere, Intensive Care Unit, Egypt
- Abdul-Kareem Jouaity, Platoon of Ruin, Morocco
- Ali al-Muqri, Black Taste, Black Odour, Yemen
- Ali Bader, The Tobacco Guard, Iraq
- Ibrahim al-Koni, The Tumour, Libya
- Muhammed Abu Maatouk, The Bottle and the Genie, Syria
- Renée Hayek, Prayer for the Family, Lebanon
- Bensalem Himmich, The Man from Andalucia, Morocco
- Yahya Yakhlif, Ma' Al Sama' , Palestine
2008
The novels shortlisted for IPAF 2007/2008:
- Bahaa Taher, Sunset Oasis , Egypt
- Jabbour Douaihy, June's Rain, Lebanon
- Elias Farkouh, The Land of Purgatory, Jordan
- Khaled Khalifa, In Praise of Hatred, Syria
- May Menassa, Walking in the Dust, Lebanon
- Mekkaoui Said, Swan Song, Egypt
Judges
The judges since 2008 are listed below:
2011
- Fadhil al-Azzawi
- Munira Al-Fadhel
- Isabella Camera D'Afflitto
- Amjad Nasser
- Said Yaktine
2010
2009
2008
Statistics
In the five years since the IPAF began, nine authors have made it into the longlist twice: Ali al-Muqri, Ali Bader, Jabbour Douaihy, Ezzedine Choukri Fishere, Bensalem Himmich, Fawwaz Haddad, Renée Hayek, Rabee Jaber, Habib Selmi, and Youssef Ziedan.
66 novels have been longlisted in the first five years, 34 of them coming from Egypt, Lebanon or Syria. Following is a full breakdown by nationality of author:
- Egypt 14
- Lebanon 12
- Syria 8
- Iraq 5
- Saudi Arabia 5
- Morocco 4
- Palestine 4
- Jordan 4
- Algeria 3
- Libya 2
- Tunisia 2
- Yemen 2
- Sudan 1
IPAF Nadwa
References
External links