ABU DHABI, 18th December, 2020 (WAM) — The Sheikh Zayed Book Award at the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi announced the translation of 9 new books this year into five different international languages: English, French, Italian, and Ukrainian, and for the first time a translation in Greek. This brings the total number of books published with the support of the award’s translation grant initiative to 24 books since its launch in 2018.
The year-round translation grant for international publishers aims to promote the dissemination of Arabic literature around the world by translating the winning literary works, children’s literature and the titles of the short-listed in the award into many languages, as the grant provides financial funding of up to $ 19,000.
The translation of a group of masterpieces of Arabic literature through the Translation Grant initiative comes within the framework of the celebration of the International Day of the Arabic Language, which represents a great opportunity to highlight the efforts of the initiative in supporting the Arab cultural product and an attempt to spread Arabic literature around the world and introduce readers to its creations, and its role in creating movement among cultural circles. Globalism.
The titles of the books that were translated with the support of the grant varied and included several branches, including the branch of children’s and youth literature, which included..
An Artist’s Journey: by Tunisian writer Maison Bennani, winner of the 2021 Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award. It was translated into English by Noha Jourani Hammad, in cooperation with Book Land Press.
And “The Boy Who Saw the Color of the Air”: by the Lebanese writer Abdo Wazen, winner of the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award for the year 2012. It was translated into English by Noha Jourani Hammad, in cooperation with the “Book Land Press” publishing house.
And “The Lilac Girl”: by Palestinian writer Ibtisam Barakat, winner of the Child and Young Adult Literature Award 2020, and translated into Greek by Bashar Abbas in cooperation with the “Strang Days Books” publishing house.
And “An Artist’s Journey”: by the Tunisian writer Maison Bennani, who won the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award for the year 2021. It was translated into French by Laila Taher in cooperation with the “Book Land Press” publishing house.
And “The Boy Who Saw the Color of the Air”: by the Lebanese writer Abdo Wazen, who won the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award for the year 2012. It was translated into Ukrainian by Aksana Prokhovych, in cooperation with Anita Antonenko Publishing House.
The Arts Branch included the following titles:
What You Left Behind: by Palestinian novelist Shatha Mustafa, shortlisted for the 2021 Sheikh Zayed Book Award for the Young Author category.
Translated into English by Nancy Roberts in collaboration with Banipal Publishing, this book is the first short-listed book to be translated through the award’s translation grant.
And “Summer Rains”: by the Egyptian writer Ahmed Al-Karmalawi, who won the Young Author Award 2018, and was translated into Italian by Amira Kilani in cooperation with the publishing house “Round Robin Edtress”.
And “After Coffee”: by the Egyptian writer Abd al-Rashid Mahmoudi, winner of the Literature Prize 2014. It was translated into Ukrainian by Bohdan Horvat, in cooperation with the “Anita Antonenko” publishing house.
And “Summer Rains”: by the Egyptian writer Ahmed Al-Karmalawi, who won the Young Author Award 2018, and was translated into Ukrainian by Sergey Rybalkin in cooperation with the “Anita Antonenko Publishing” house.
In this context, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Secretary-General of the Award and President of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, said: “The translation grant is an important qualitative addition that enriches the international literary scene, and a cultural bridge that connects our region with the world. We see in this initiative a real source that supports our efforts in introducing Contemporary Arabic literature in general, and in creating intellectual and discussion spaces that allow the exchange of visions and ideas.The translation grant is in line with the vision and goals of the center to reach new cultures that want to know more regarding Arab civilization, and we look forward in the coming years to translating more books in Arabic to enhance the dissemination of literature the Arab world and open the doors of dialogue between civilizations.
Lucia Guarano, director of foreign rights at the “Round Ruben Edtress” publishing house in Italy, said: “The Sheikh Zayed Book Award grant for translation is an essential tool for linking cultures and supporting Arab authors and writers in Italy and Europe.” From the initiative to the Italian: “Summer Rains provides a deep insight into Arab society and sheds light on an aspect of customs, traditions and modern civilization. It is a beautiful novel for different generations associated with music and art.”
Konstantinos Malusaris of the Greek house, Strange Daybox, said: “Arabic literature opens the doors to understanding Arab society and Arab culture, which represents one of the most important historical cultural pillars in the world.” Regarding the story of “The Lilac Girl,” one of the children’s stories translated with the support of the initiative into Greek, Konstantinos Malusaris said, The novel carries with it a message that aims to develop children’s imagination, introduce them to the world of color, and make art a supreme tool for life, which reflects the spirit of Arabic literature and its role in human development.
It is noteworthy that the Sheikh Zayed Book Award is an award granted for the qualitative and distinguished achievements of creators and thinkers in the fields of literature, arts and humanities in Arabic and other languages. It also supports the translation movement by honoring authors who produce literary works on Arab culture and civilization in different languages.
