Sheikh Zayed Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 2 (2008) Winner
Ibrahim al-Koni
イブラーヒーム・アル＝コーニ
Ibrahim al-Koni
Aliases:
Ibrahim Kuni / Ibrāhīm Kūnī / ابراهيم الكوني
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1948 （Ghadamis (Fezzan region), Libya）
- Nationality
- Libya
- Languages
- Arabic
- Religion
- Islam (influenced by Sufi tradition)
- Residence History
- Childhood in Ghadamis, Libya → Moscow (Soviet Union / Russia) - studies and journalism → Warsaw (Poland) - journalism → Switzerland - residence (since 1993)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Writer, Journalist
- Active Years
- 1970-
- Influenced By
- Tuareg oral tradition and mythology, Sufi thought (Islamic mysticism), Russian literature (influence from time in Moscow)
- Influenced
- Contemporary Arab writers (influenced in their use of desert and mythic themes)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxim Gorky Literature Institute (Moscow) | — | Literature and Journalism | — | — | Russia |
Maxim Gorky Literature Institute (Moscow)
Literature and Journalism
Country:
Russia
Studied literature and journalism in Moscow; later worked as a journalist
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Mohamed Zafzaf Prize for the Arab Novel | — | — | — | 受賞 |
| 2006 | Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres | — | — | French Ministry of Culture (order) | 叙勲（シュヴァリエ） |
| 2008 | Sheikh Zayed Book Award | — | — | Sheikh Zayed Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2015 | Man Booker International Prize | — | — | The Booker Prizes | ショートリスト |
Mohamed Zafzaf Prize for the Arab Novel
2005
Result:
受賞
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
2006
Organization:
French Ministry of Culture (order)
Result:
叙勲（シュヴァリエ）
Sheikh Zayed Book Award
2008
Organization:
Sheikh Zayed Foundation
Result:
受賞
Man Booker International Prize
2015
Organization:
The Booker Prizes
Result:
ショートリスト
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
al-Tibr (Gold Dust)
1990 NovelA novel set against the desert and its myths, exploring relations between humans and nature and spiritual-philosophical questions. Translated into English as 'Gold Dust'.
DesertMythHuman-nature relationship
Translations
- English: Gold Dust (2008)
Nazīf al-Ḥajar (The Bleeding of the Stone)
1990 NovelAn allegorical tale about desert environment and resources, depicting tradition versus modernization and reverence for nature.
EnvironmentTradition vs. modernizationSpirits
Translations
- English: The Bleeding of the Stone (various translators)
al-Majūs (The Fetishists)
1990 NovelA fable-like novel grounded in Tuareg myths and rituals, portraying conflicts between mythical beings and humans.
RitualMythCultural identity
Translations
- English translation available (University of Texas, 2019)
New Waw / Oasis Trilogy (selected)
1997 Novel (trilogy)A trilogy set in an oasis, using fable-like and poetic narration to portray desert life and its spiritual world.
OasisCommunitySpirituality
al-Baḥth ʿan al-Makān al-Ḍāʾiʿ (The Seven Veils of Seth)
2003 NovelAn epic exploring identity and a lost place, interweaving symbolism and myth.
LossQuestSymbolism
Translations
- English: The Seven Veils of Seth (Garnet Publishing, 2008)
Anūbīs (Anubis: A Desert Novel)
2012 NovelA mythic and symbolic desert novel with motifs influenced by Egyptian mythology.
MythSymbolismDesert
Translations
- English translation available (AUC Press, etc.)
Kalimat al-Layl fī Ḥaqq al-Nahār (The Night Will Have Its Say)
2019 NovelA notable later work exploring symbolic contrasts of night and day, darkness and light, to examine the human spirit.
ContrastIntrospectionSymbolism
Translations
- English: The Night Will Have Its Say (Hoopoe, 2022)
Bibliography
- al-Tibr - Gold Dust (1990)
- Nazīf al-Ḥajar - The Bleeding of the Stone (1990)
- al-Majūs - The Fetishists (1990–1991)
- New Waw / Oasis Trilogy (1997–1998)
- al-Baḥth ʿan al-Makān al-Ḍāʾiʿ - The Seven Veils of Seth (2003)
- Anūbīs - Anubis: A Desert Novel (2012)
- Kalimat al-Layl fī Ḥaqq al-Nahār - The Night Will Have Its Say (2019)
Translations of Works
- English translations (many; works translated into over 35 languages)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Magical-realist tendenciesPoetic and fable-like narrationSymbolist
- Recurring Motifs
- DesertOasisSpirits and mythic beingsCamels and animals
Legacy
Regarded as one of the most prolific and influential Arab novelists for his poetic, fable-like work rooted in Tuareg mythology and the desert. His books have been translated into over 35 languages and he has received multiple international honours.
Trivia
- Raised within Tuareg traditional environment.
- Learned to read and write Arabic at age 12.
- Published over 80 books by 2007.
- Has lived in Switzerland since 1993.
- Works have been translated into over 35 languages.