A shot of the skyline from the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center’s 2021 Sheikh Zayed Book Award winners’ presentation. Image: Sheikh Zayed Book Award
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
852 Submissions in Literature
Our regular readers will recall the longlists released already in the 2021-2022 iteration of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award—organized and administered by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre under the direction of Dr. Ali Bin Tamim—in the categories of Children’s Literature and Young Author.
Today (January 20), we have the remainder of the Zayed Award program’s category longlists.
This is the award’s 16th edition, and with a purse of 750,000 UAE dirhams (US$204,193) in each of the eight book categories, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award is among the wealthiest portfolios of publishing-related honors in the world, worth a total of 7 million dirhams (US$1.9 million).
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award honors the outstanding achievements of innovators and thinkers in literature, the arts, and humanities in Arabic and other languages. It aims to advance Arabic literature and culture, providing new opportunities for Arabic-language writers. Authors writing about Arab culture and civilization in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian also are recognized by the award program.
As was announced late last year, the program has for the first time surpassed 3,000 submissions across its nine categories.
We begin today with the Literature category’s longlist, which features 13 titles in prose and two in poetry.
Literature Category Longlist
There are 15 titles on the 2022 longlist in Literature, drawn from a total 852 submission—a remarkable 46-percent increase in the number of submissions made for the 2020 round.
The new longlist in Literature comprises titles from nine countries: the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Egypt, Oman, Morocco, Mauritania, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
- Yawmyyat Rose (Rose’s Diaries) by Reem Alkamali (UAE) published by Dar Al Adab Publishing & Distribution in 2021
- Al Rehla Al Naqisah (The Missing Trip) by Fatima Al Mohsen (UK/Iraq) published by Al Kamel Verlag in 2021
- Matahat Al A abed (The Labyrinth of The Worshiper) by Mohamed Youssef Elgharbawi (Egypt) published by Ibiidi Publishing in 2021
- Safar Wahshi (Wild Travel) by Mohamed Hiyawi (Iraq/Netherlands) published by Sillat Media Books in 2021
- Sir Al Moriksi (Morexian Secret) by Mohammed Alajmi (Oman) published by Dar Arab Publishing & Translation in 2021
- Ghorbat Al Manazil (Strangers at Home) by Ezzat Elkamhawy (Egypt) published by Al Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah in 2021
- Wa Tahmelany Hayraty Wa Dh anony Seerat Altakween (Composition Biography: Thoughts and Confusion Carry Me) by Said Bengrad (Morocco) published by Le Centre Culturel Du Livre in 2021
- Al Shan qeeti (Al-Shanqeeti) by Sayid Weld Bah (Mauritania) published by Le Centre Culturel Du Livre in 2021
- Rabe e Al Ghabah (Forest Spring) by Jamal Matar (UAE) published by ElAin Publishing in 2021
- Habs Qarah (Confining a Continent) by Said Bensaid Alaoui (Morocco) published by Le Centre Culturel Du Livre in 2021
- Mokhatat Petersburg (Petersburg Manuscript) by Jan Dost (Syria/Germany) published by Meskiliani Publishing with Dar Al-Rafidain in 2020
- Khatf Al Habib (The Lover’s Kidnapping) by Taleb Al Refai (Kuwait) published by Kuttab Publishing & Distribution in 2021
- Maq ha Reesh, Ain Ala Massr (Eyes on Egypt: Alreesh Café) by Maisoon Saqer (UAE) published by Nahdet Misr Publishing in 2021
The two poetry longlisted entries are:
- La Harb fe Terwadah: Kalemat Homeras Al Akheera (No War in Troy: Homer s Last Words) by Nouri Al Jarah (Syria/UK), published by Almutawassit Books in 2019
- Tadharees Al Hathyan (Delirium Map) by Jassim Alsuhayyih (Saudi Arabia), published by Tashkeel Publishing & Distribution in 2020
Translation Category Longlist
Chosen from a total pool of 148 submissions, the 10 nominations in the Translation category include books from publishers in six Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Morocco, and Tunisia. Most of them (six) were written in English and translated into Arabic.
The longlist also features an Arabic book translated into English—a 13th-century cookbook.
- Al Qira a wal Kitaba fi al Jazeera al Arabiya Qabl al Islam wa Huwyiat Mumariseeha (Literacy and Identity in Pre-Islamic Arabia) authored by Michael MacDonald, translated by Fahad Mutlaq A. Alotaibi from Saudi Arabia, and published by King Saud University Press in 2020
- Al Bahr wal Hadara: Al Tareekh al Bahri lil Aalam (The Sea and Civilisation: A Maritime History of the World) authored by Lincoln Payne, translated by Mostafa Mohamad Abdallah Kassem from Egypt, and published by King Saud University Press in 2019
- Al Muwatana Muta addidat al Thaqafat: Natharyia Liberaliya li Huqooq al Aqaliyyat (Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights) authored by Will Kymlicka, translated by Abdennour Kharraki from Morocco, and published by the American University of Baghdad in 2021
- Hermes al Arabi: Min Hakeem Wathany ila Nabi al Elm (The Arabic Hermes from Pagan Sage to Prophet of Science) authored by Kevin Van Bladel, translated by Mohamed Salem Obada from Egypt, and published by Bait Elyasmin Publishing & Distribution with National Center for Translation in 2020
- Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson, translated by Mohsen Bani Saeed from Iraq/Australia, and published by Nabu Publishers in 2020
- Nash at al Insaniyat Einda al Muslimeen wa fi al Gharb al Maseehi (The Rise of Humanism in Classical Islam and the Christian West) authored by George Makdisi, translated by Ahmed Aladawi from Egypt, and published by Madarat for Research and Publishing in 2021
The longlist features three books translated from French into Arabic:
- Al Qawl wal Maqoul (Le dire et le dit) authored by Oswald Decro, translated by Besma ben Haj Rehouma Alchekili from Tunisia, and published by Institut de Traduction de Tunis and Med Ali Editions in 2019
- Ikhtilaq Oropa (L invention de l Europe) authored by Emmanuel Todd, translated by Ahmed Fadhel Alhlaili from Tunisia, and published by Mominoun Without Borders Publishing & Distribution in 2020
- Ratha il al Maarifa: Bahth fi al Ahkaam al Akhlaqiya al Fikriya (Les Vices du savoir: Essai d éstique intellectuelle) authored by Pascal Engel, translated by Kassem Almekdad from Syria, and published by Ninawa Studies Publishing & Distribution in 2021
The translation category s longlist also included one Arabic book translated into English:
- Fadaalat al Ikhwan fi Tayibat al Ta aam wal Alwan (Best of Delectable Foods and Dishes from Al-Andalus and Al-Maghrib: A Cookbook by 13th Century Andalusi Scholar Ibn Razin Al-Tujibi, 1227–1293), authored by Ibn Razin Al-Tajibi, translated by Nawal Nasrallah from Iraq/USA, and published by Brill Publishing in 2021
‘Development of Nations’ Category Longlist
The Contribution to the Development of Nations category received 290 submissions this year, an increase of 11 percent from the 262 applications last year.
Seven titles made it onto the longlist for the “Contribution to the Development of Nations” category, submitted from six Arab countries: Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.
- Mo jam Dar al Sikka fi Al Aalam al Islami al Waseet (Dar al Sikka Dictionary in the Middle Islamic World), by Mohamed Alghodhbane from Tunisia, published by the GLD Institution in 2021
- Maseer al Thaqafa wal Turath al Thaqafi fi Aasr al Hadatha al Sa ila (The Fate of Culture and Cultural Heritage in the Era of Liquid Modernity), by Egyptian author Sayed Fares, published by Dar Roueya Publishing & Distribution in 2021
- Ikhaa al Adyan: Muhawala li Binaa Ikhaa Insani Raseedoh al Rooh wal Irfan, Dirasa fi al Osool al Mo assisa fi al Turath al Islami (Brotherhood of Religions: Attempt to Establish a Spiritual Human Brotherhood, a Study in Founding Principles of Islamic Heritage), by Syrian author Mohamad Habach, issued by Mominoun Without Borders Publishing & Distribution in 2021
- Al Deen wal Karama al Insanya (Religion and Human Dignity), by Abd Aljabbar Alrefae from Iraq, published by Philosophy of Religion Study Centre with Dar Al Tanweer Printing & Publishing in 2021
- Al Nahda al Moaallaka (Renaissance on Hold), by Moroccan writer Mohammed Nouraldin Affaya, issued by Le Centre Culturel du Livre in 2020
- Falsafat al Akhariya: Al Akhar Bayn Sartre wa Levinas wa Bahjat al Diyafa (Philosophy of Otherism: The Other between Sartre and Levinas and the Joy of Hospitality), by Saudi writer Abdullah Almutairi, published by Madarek Publishing House in 2021
- Fi Istishkal al Yawm al Falsafi: Ta ammulat fi al Falsafa al Thanya Min Ajl I aadat al Ta asees (In Today s Problematic Philosophical Age: Reflections on the Second Philosophical Age for Re-Establishment) by Tunisian author Mohamed Abu Hashem Mahjoub, issued by Kalima Publishing in 2021
Literary and Art Criticism Longlist
Literary and Art Criticism received 273 entries this year, marking a considerable growth of 37 percent compared to last year’s 199 submissions.
This longlist features 11 works from seven nations: Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
The longlisted titles are:
- Fitnat al Mutwara: Bahth fi Juthoor al Fi l al Fanni (The Hidden Temptation: A Study into the Roots of the Artistic Work) by Moustafa Eissa from Egypt, issued by Battana Publishing in 2021
- Al Sarid wa Taw am al Rooh: Min al Tamtheel ila al Istinaa (The Narrator and the Soulmate: From Acting to Faking) by the Moroccan writer M’hamed Aldahi, issued by Le Centre Culturel du Livre in 2021
- Iqa at al Ibdaa fi al Tabee aa wal Fann (Rhythms of Creativity in Nature and Art) by Syrian author Kamal Alkontar, issued by the Syrian General Authority for Books in 2019
- Al Sard al Adabi min al Tajreebi ila al Tarabuti (Literary Prose: From Experimental to Associative) by Zhour Gourram from Morocco, issued by Sharjah Department of Culture in 2021
- Al Naqd al Hadari li Khitab ma Baad al Colonialiya: Namathij min al Seera al Thatiya wa Qadaya al Zunuja wal Hawiya (Cultural Criticism of the Post-colonial Narrative: Examples of Biographies and Issues of Black and Other Identities) by Egyptian writer Abdelfattah Ahmed Youssef, issued by Al Rawafed Culture and Nadim Edition in 2021
- Ba eeda bi Riqat Aala al Mirsal: Ashaar al Hob Aind Nisaa al Badu (Softly Far from the Messenger, Love Poems by Bedouin Women) by Egyptian writer Miral Altahawy, issued by Al Mahrousa Center for Publishing, Press Services, and Information in 2020
- Al Rawasib al Ifreeqiya fi al Thaqafa al Shaabiya al Tunisiya (African Influences in Tunisian Culture) by Amine Al Zawari from Tunisia, issued by Librairie Alaeddine in 2019
- Ma Baad al Ughniya (After the Song), by Saudi writer Ahmed Alwasel, issued by Kalimat Group with Dar Rewayat in 2021
- Al Jamalyia wal Aala iq: Al Talaqi – al Ta weel – al Tanass – al Naqd al Thaqafi – al Fikr al Murakkab, Tahafut al Manhaj wa Nisbiyat al Maqarrat (Beauty and the Relationship of Receiving: Interpretation; Similarity; Cultural Criticism; Complex Thought; Method Incoherence and Relativity of Comparisons) by Algerian writer Aissani Belkacem, issued by Difaf Publishing, El-lkhtilef and Dar Elamane in 2019
- Al Shi ir al Emarati fi Daw al Naqd al Adabi al Bee i (Emirati Poetry in Light of Literary Eco-criticism) by Aysha Juma Alshamsi from the UAE, issued by Sharjah Department of Culture in 2021
- Nahwa al Shawari: Fi Raheel al Nahw ila al Shawari (The Role of Street Grammar in Influencing Proper Grammar) by Taoufik Alaloui from Tunisia, issued by Med Ali Editions in 2021
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