For the first time Morocco celebrates for the first time the Goncourt Prize at la Salle Ribat al Fath, one of the historic events in the literary world.  “Not just an award, it’s a passion” declares Christophe Lecourtier the Ambassador of France in Morocco as she gracefully thanked all the Moroccan universities which participated in the organization of this happening.

Morocco joining this initiative is an expression of its devotion to promoting Moroccan literature and strengthening its cultural ties with France. The national edition of the Goncourt Prize paves the way for new collaborations and enriching exchanges between Moroccan and French authors.

"Morocco is the country that I find the most beautiful, I thought it was time to proclaim this prize in it" stated Françoise Chandernagor, vice-president of the ‘Académie Goncourt’.

 Goncourt winner, Makenzy Orcel

The literary work that won not only the prize of Goncourt but also the heart of the jury was “Une Somme humaine” by Makenzy Orcel. This decision has been made by the jury of Moroccan public universities and awarded at Siel in the presence of the ambassador of France in Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier and the vice-president of the Goncourt Academy, Françoise Chandernagor.

“Une somme humaine" by Makenzy Orcel, a contemporary Haitian writer, was published in 2011. It plunges the reader into the heart of Haiti's social and human reality, powerfully illustrating the struggles, injustices and hopes of the Haitian people.

The Moroccan edition of the Goncourt Prize is a historic event that marked the Moroccan literary landscape in the same way the international publishing book fair does, allowing young talents from diverse cultural backgrounds to shine and further reinforce Morocco’s position as a crossroads of literature and culture.

Shams Ghadbane, Isic