Moroccan author Zineb Mekouar has been honored by the readers and booksellers of the French publisher “Points” for her novel “La Poule et son cumin” on Tuesday in Paris.
Mekouar received her “Best Novel” award during a ceremony organized at the Moroccan embassy in France, in the presence of prominent figures alongside jury members and a distinguished assembly of intellectuals and artists.
The Best Novel award was established in 2013 and is granted by a jury of 100 readers and about 30 professionals.
The novel, published in 2022, narrates the destinies of two radically different young Moroccan women, Kenza and Fatiha, from two opposing social circles.
Through the intertwined stories of Kenza and Fatiha, Mekouar weaves together the fates of two heroines, caught between submission and rebellion.
In this story, their wounds and tragedies reflect the political and social divisions of contemporary Morocco.
In a speech during the ceremony, Moroccan ambassador to Paris, Samira Sitaïl, expressed being “impressed” by the way Zineb Mekouar depicts Moroccan society in her novels, “with such realism while making us dream.”
Sitaïl praised the young author for using her talent to promote Franco-Moroccan friendship, highlighting her journey as “an example and an inspiration for everyone who dreams of one day writing and getting their books published.”
In a statement to MAP, Zineb Mekouar expressed her deep emotion and pride in receiving this award at the Moroccan embassy.
“This means a lot to me because it concerns my country. My writing draws its inspiration from the deep love I have for Morocco and my intense desire to share it through my words,” she emphasized. She explained that the themes of her novel “La Poule et son cumin,” particularly “gender equality in Morocco and our relationship with foreigners, especially in France, are subjects close to my heart.”
Mekouar was born in 1991 in Casablanca. She has lived in Paris since 2009. After studying at Sciences Po and HEC Paris, she worked in strategy consulting. She was also responsible for public affairs in a startup incubator.
Hespress English
Add comment