Algerian-French novelist Kamel Daoud has made history by winning the prestigious Goncourt prize, per africanews.com. The award, one of the most coveted in the French-speaking world, was announced on Monday, November 4.
Daoud’s winning novel, Houris, is a powerful exploration of the Algerian Civil War, known as the “Black Decade.” Despite the novel’s critical acclaim, it will not be published in Algeria due to laws that criminalise public discussion of the conflict.
This win marks a significant moment for Algerian literature and highlights the enduring power of storytelling to address historical trauma.
Daoud joins a long list of renowned authors who have received the Goncourt prize, solidifying his place in the literary world.
