Morocco celebrates literary excellence at the 55th Morocco Book Prize

Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication held the 2024 Morocco Book Prize ceremony this Saturday in Rabat, coinciding with the 30th International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL). This prestigious event, now in its 55th edition, stands as one of the nation’s most distinguished honors for intellectual and cultural achievements, showcasing the richness of Morocco’s literary and scholarly contributions.

A panel of esteemed academics, researchers, and writers meticulously reviewed and selected the award-winning works through thorough deliberations. This year, the Poetry Prize was awarded jointly to Idriss El Melliani and Mohamed Aziz El Hossini, while the Narrative Prize went to Said Montasib. The Human Sciences Prize was shared between Hicham Rakik and Samir Ait Oumghar. Additionally, Hassan Taleb earned the Translation Prize, and Larbi Moumouche received accolades for his work in Amazigh Cultural Studies. The Amazigh Literature Prize was awarded to Fouad Azeroual.

Notably, the jury did not confer awards in the categories of Social Sciences, Literary, Artistic and Linguistic Studies, or Children’s and Young Adult Literature due to entries failing to meet the established standards.

The ceremony also featured the 23rd Ibn Battouta Prize for Travel Literature, drawing media, cultural, and literary figures. Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, emphasized the significance of the prize, which has contributed to a robust body of research and texts over its 23 years. Nouri Al Jarrah, director of the Arab Center for Geographic Literature, described the Ibn Battouta Prize as a pivotal reference in Arab cultural life.

This year, seven Moroccan writers were among the twelve winners, showcasing dominance in categories such as research, translation, and analysis in travel literature. In the “Verified Travel” category, Moroccan researchers Abdelhadi Kadioui, Houria Rifi, and Mohamed El Andaloussi received recognition for their studies on historical travel accounts. Other Moroccan honorees included Mohamed Mohamed Khattabi in the “Daily Journal” category and Abdelaziz Jadir, Mohamed Naddam, and Abderrahman Temmara in the “Studies” category. Internationally, Jordanian Issam Mohammed Al-Shahadat and Lebanese Issa Makhlouf were awarded in the translated travel literature and contemporary travel writing categories, respectively.

Since its inception in 2000, the Ibn Battouta Prize has honored 144 writers from 20 countries across four continents, solidifying its stature in the literary world. This year’s SIEL provided a vibrant platform for dialogue on literature, culture, human rights, and education, marking a significant moment in the celebration of Morocco’s literary heritage. The event has also reinforced Rabat’s status as UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2026.