| March 2008 |
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| Baha Taher wins first IPAF prize |
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| 3/10/2008 |
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| Egyptian author Baha Taher was named the inaugural winner of the $50,000 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) for ‘Sunset Oasis’, published by Al Shorooq, Cairo.
The winner announcement was made by Iraqi writer Samuel Shimon, Chair of Judges for this year, at the end of a prestigious awards ceremony that took place on Monday 10th of March 2008.
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jonathan Taylor, who also chairs the Booker Prize Foundation, addressed the guests, as well as Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Managing Director of the Emirates Foundation, Zaki Nusseibeh, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Culture & Heritage Authority, internationally acclaimed author Ahdaf Soueif , chairman of the judges Samuel Shimon, and writer Joumana Haddad, the IPAF’s Administrator.
The judging panel for the 2008 International Prize for Arabic Fiction was, along chairman Shimon, Mohammed Bennis, Moroccan poet and critic; Mohammed Berrada, Moroccan writer and critic; Feissal Darraj, Palestinian writer and critic; Ghalia Kabbani, Syrian writer and journalist; Paul Starkey, British writer and translator.
The shortlist and panel of six judges for this year’s prize was announced at a press conference in London on 29 January 2008. The other shortlisted writers were Elias Farkouh, May Menassa, Khaled Khalifa, Mekkawi Said, and jabbour Douaihy.
More details coming up very soon! |
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