DZ literature

 Samir Kacimi's new novel "الحماقة كما لم يروها أحد" is released by El-Ikhtilef. It will be made available from 7 December. The book's dedicated FB page (as is the tradition in Algeria for book promotion) will announce distribution news. See  رواية الحماقة كما لم يروها أحد  

On 13 January, Nacer Djabi was forbidden to give a conference at the University of Batna. Nacer Djabi is a sociologist, specialist in protest movements, and was coming to Batna to present and discuss his new book ' Amazigh Movements in North Africa ' (الحركات الأمزيغية في شمال إفرقية), released in 2018 by Chihab editions. In this interview, journalist Leila Bouzidi speaks to Nacer Djabi, novelist Hmida Ayashi and Hamid Bouhbib, specialist in popular culture, about the increasing trend in censuring conferences and cultural events in Algeria.

The jury of the Yamina Mechakra Prize have today announced the three prize winners for best novel in French, Arabic and Tamazight. The award ceremony was held in Algiers' Mufdi Zakaria Palace of Culture.  The winners are: - best novel in French is Orages (Thunderstorms) by Hedia Bensalhi (Frantz Fanon editions). - best novel in Arabic is قلب الاسباني (A spanish heart) by Djamila Talbaoui (El-Watan El-Yom eds) - best novel in Tamazight is Ihulfan (Emotions) by Kayssa Khalifi. Kayssa Khalifi, a young journalist and poet, passed away in June 2018. The award is sadly given posthumously. The jury was composed of three members: Maissa Bey, who presided, was responsible for submissions in the French language. Novelist and poet Rabia Djelti looked after submissions in Arabic, and Lynda Koudache after those in Tamzight.

The first edition of the Yamina Mechakra Prize, created last year in 2018, is to announce its winners for best novel in the Arabic, Tamazight and French on Sunday 20 January at 2pm from the 'Moufdi Zakaria Palace of Culture'. The authors and novels shortlisted are: In Arabic - Djamila Talbaoui for قلب الاسبا ني (Al-Watan El-Yom editions) - Amel Bouchareb for ثابتة الظلمة  (Chihab editions) - Ghozlan Guenouche for عتق (Alfadouk editions) In Tamazight - Zoulikha Touati for Tidet deg targit - Chabha Ben Gana for Amsebrid - Kayssa Khalifi for Ihulfan In French - Nassira Belloula for Aimer Maria (Chihab editions) - Hédia Bensahli for Orages (Frantz Fanon editions) - Amira Gehenne Khalfallah for Le naufrage de la lune (Barzakh editions)

The Mauguin Bookshop ( Librairie Mauguin ) is offically known as the first printing house opened in Algeria. Founded in 1857 in Blida, it reopened its doors on Saturday 19 January. The reopening marks Mauguin's 110 birthday. New plans include regular meet-ups and debates between writers and the public. The opening welcomed novelists Mohamed Sari, Mustapha Benfodil, and Amina Bekkat who presented their latest works. Read more in French on the Huff Post Algérie.

  Arabic Literature (in English) spoke with Habib Sayah about his latest novel roman, 'ana wa haim', among 15 novels in Arabic longlisted for the IPAF 2019. Cracking ‘the Shell of the Taboo Around Talking about Algerian Jews’  What made you decide to build Me and Haim around Muslims and Jews who live together under French colonial Occupation? Habib al-Sayah: It was my hope that, by exploring the relationship between Algerians, one Muslim and the other Jewish, I would crack the shell of the taboo around talking about Algerian Jews, who have lived in the country for more than twenty centuries, a population joined by those immigrants who fled the Spanish Inquisition. For them, Algeria was a land of peace and safety. My decision to write about that relationship was based in my conviction that Algerian Jews were an integral part of social, historical, and cultural elements; they spoke the same languages (Algerian, in Arabic or Amazigh dialects). They w