WINNER OF 2009 INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR ARABIC FICTION (IPAF) ANNOUNCED IN ABU DHABI

IPAF Judges Select Youssef Ziedan as Winner
of Prestigious Literature Prize for 2009

www.arabicfiction.org                   

In Association with The Booker Prize Foundation, London
Supported by the Emirates Foundation

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 16, 2009 – The winner of the 2009 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan, for his novel Beelzebub, published by Dar al Shorouk, Cairo, in 2008. This year’s winner was announced before a VIP audience of Arab and international intellectuals, publishers, critics, writers and journalists at the gala awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, UAE, tonight – Monday, March 16 2009. The internationally acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh was guest speaker at the event.

Set in fifth century Upper Egypt, Alexandria and northern Syria, Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan’s winning novel unfolds during a critical point in Christian history. Focusing on the period following the Roman Empire’s adoption of the 'new' religion, the novel highlights the subsequent internal doctrinal conflicts rising amongst the fathers of the Church on the one hand, and between the 'new' believers and receding paganism on the other.

The much anticipated winner announcement was made by the Chair of Judges, the renowned Lebanese Academic, writer, editor and critic Youmna el Eid. Also present were the four other members of the judging panel: Rasheed El-Enany, Egyptian Professor of modern Arabic literature and Director of Arab Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter; Hartmut Faehndrich, German translator of Arabic literature; Mohammad al Murr, Emirati writer, journalist and Deputy Head of Dubai Cultural Council; Fakhri Saleh, Jordanian critic, journalist and authority on contemporary Arabic literature.

The Chair of Judges, Youmna el Eid, commented: “The judging panel’s work was characterized by a remarkable degree of mutual understanding and the ability to come to an agreement, despite the occasional difference of opinion. In their deliberation and final judgment, the judges’ aim has always been an ‘in depth’ consideration of the novels, and a just outcome. The choice was not easy, because of the distinctly high quality of all six shortlisted novels”.

This annual prize, which is run in association with the UK’s Booker Prize Foundation and with the financial support of the Emirates Foundation of Abu Dhabi, is for prose fiction in Arabic. Its aim is to recognise and reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage wider readership of such Arabic literature internationally through translation. Each of the six shortlisted authors receives $10,000, with a further $50,000 going to the winner. The winner is also guaranteed an English translation of his work.

The names of the six shortlisted authors for this independent and prestigious Arabic fiction prize – and those of the previously anonymous judging panel – were announced at a press conference in London on December 10 2008. By that stage, the judges had read and discussed in detail a longlist of over 121 novels published in Arabic and entered from 16 countries.

Jonathan Taylor CBE, Chairman of the IPAF Board of Trustees, and of The Booker Prize Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be awarding the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for a second year in a row and we are tremendously pleased with the warm response and excitement that the award is now generating in the UAE and worldwide.”

The Managing Director of the Emirates Foundation, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, said in his welcome address: “The Emirates Foundation is pleased to continue its support for this brilliant Arabic literature award, here in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

“There is a great range of Arabic literature which continues to deserve the widest possible audience in the Arab world – and beyond. The IPAF award is one of the best ways to support both new Arab creative writing and its translation into the world’s leading languages.”

The administrator of the prize, Joumana Haddad, noted: “In its second year, the International Prize for Arabic Fiction has matured and grown. It is better established, its vision is clearer, and it is fulfilling its potential as a critical conscience and voice of authority with respect to the contemporary Arabic novel”.

This year’s winner announcement took place on the eve of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2009. A number of IPAF events will be taking place during the course of the fair.

Ends
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Notes to Editors

• The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is a prestigious annual literary prize, first awarded in 2008, which rewards excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing, and encourages wider readership of Arabic literature worldwide – in the original and in translation.

• The IPAF 2009 shortlist (with names in English) and authors (with country of origin), is as follows:

• The IPAF 2009 judging panel consists of:

Youmna el Eid (Chair) Academic, writer, editor and critic Lebanon
Rasheed el-Enany Academic and writer Egypt
Hartmut Faehndrich Translator Germany
Mohammad al Murr Writer and Journalist UAE
Fakhri Saleh Academic, critic, editor and journalist Jordan


• An independent Board of Trustees, drawn from across the Arab world and beyond, is responsible for the overall management of the prize. The trustees are, in alphabetical order: Marie-Thérèse Abdul-Messih, Professor of English & Comparative Literature, University of Cairo, Egypt; Dr. Peter Clark OBE, Independent Consultant and Writer, Middle East Cultural Advisory Services, UK; Riad El-Rayyes, Publisher, Riad El-Rayyes Books, Lebanon; Omar Saif Ghobash, Cultural Activist and Ambassador, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Sasha Havlicek, Executive Director, Trialogue Educational Trust; Khaled Hroub, Arab journalist, UK; Farouk Mardam-Bey, Cultural Advisor, Institut du Monde Arabe, France; Hisham Matar, Novelist, Libya/UK; Ibrahim El Moallem, Publisher, ex-Head of Arab Publisher’s Union, Egypt; 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; Yasir Suleiman, Professor of Arabic, University of Cambridge, UK; Evelyn Smith, Company Secretary, Booker Prize Foundation, UK; Jonathan Taylor CBE, Chairman, Booker Prize Foundation, UK

• The International Prize for Arabic Fiction was launched in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, in April 2007 and it is sponsored by the Emirates Foundation, one of the leading philanthropic organisations in the UAE.

For further information and press enquiries please contact:

MIDDLE EAST

• Joumana Haddad, administrator: info@arabicfiction.org/ 009619935333

• Emirates Foundation/ Abdallah Baniali; abaniali@emiratesfoundation.ae/ 00971507319559

INTERNATIONAL

• Katy MacMillan-Scott
Colman Getty Consultancy
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London W1T 3JJ, UK
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E: katy@colmangetty.co.uk