Contemporary Arabic literature is definitely on the rise. The six authors shortlisted for the 11th International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) are proof that Arab stories in fiction are more diverse then ever and exploring political and social issues through a number of literary techniques.
The six shortlisted novels were revealed by the 2018 chair of judges, Ibrahim Al Saafin, during a press conference held at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation in Amman, Jordan. Over the course of 11 years, the $50,000 prize has quickly become one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Arab world.
The authors up for the IPAF 2018 are Amir Tag Elsir (Sudan) , Aziz Mohammed (Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Nasrallah (Palestine Jordan), Shahad Al Rawi (Iraq), Walid Shurafa (Palestine) and Dima Wannous (Syria).
Two debut novelists who make the shortlist for the first time are also the youngest – Aziz Mohammed and Shahad Al Rawi whose novel Baghdad Clock has already been translated into English and will be published in June.
The 2018 IPAF winner will be announced at a ceremony in the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi on 24 April, where the author will $50,000 and the shortlisted finalists to receive $10,000.
Find out more about the six novels up for the prize below