Moroccan author Zineb Mekouar received the ‘Best Novel’ award from the readers and booksellers of the French publisher “Points” for her novel “La Poule et son cumin” on Tuesday in Paris.
The Best Novel award was established in 2013. The prize is awarded by a jury of 100 readers and around 30 professionals.
Mekouar received the award during a ceremony at the Moroccan embassy in France.
The novel follows the fortunes of two radically different young Moroccan women. The theme of the novel delves into gender equality, said Mekouar.
She expressed her satisfaction with winning the award and noted that it is a “very important” prize because the novel is about her country.
“My writing draws its source from the love I have for Morocco and the fervent desire to make it known through my words,” she said.
Morocco’s ambassador to France, Samira Sitail, described Mekouar during the ceremony as a “great talent.”
“It is not only I who say this, but also the jury and the readers who have appreciated the journey of the writer you have become today,” added the Moroccan ambassador.
She also emphasized that Mekouar represents “the best, the most beautiful, the strongest, and the most intimate between Morocco and France.”
Mekouar was born in 1991 in Casablanca. She has lived in Paris since 2009.
She studied at Sciences Po and HEC Paris and worked in strategy consulting. She was also responsible for public affairs in a startup incubator.
Morocco World News
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