Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, jury begins evaluation phase to assess the titles for the 17th edition of the prestigious award

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has revealed the longlisted titles in the ‘Contribution to the Development of Nations’ and ‘Literary and Art Criticism’ categories. The SZBA jury has now begun the evaluation phase to assess the longlisted titles across the various categories for the 17th edition (2022/2023) of the award.

The ‘Literary and Art Criticism’ category received 286 submissions this year, an increase of 5 percent from the 273 applications received last year. The ‘Contribution to the Development of Nations’ received 293 entries this year. Submissions for these two categories accounted for 18 percent of all applications received for this year’s SZBA.

Twelve titles made it onto the longlist for the ‘Literary and Art Criticism’ category, from four Arab countries: Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, and Iraq. The works on the longlist are:

• ‘Al-Mu’allafat al-Musiqiya al-Aarabiya al-Rahina: Bayn al-Maqamiya wa-al-Tonaliya’ (Contemporary Arab Music Compositions: Between Maqamat and Tonality), by Dr. Fakher Hakima from Tunisia, published by Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music and Sotumedias Publishing and Distribution in 2021
• ‘Al-Nasq wa-al-Isti’mal: Min Lisaniyat al-Lugha ila Lisaniyat al-Tawasul’ (Linguistic Systems and Usage: Language and Communication) by Mohamed El Hirech from Morocco, published by La Virgule Librairie et Papeterie in 2021
• ‘Hijrat at-Tafkik ila al-Naqd al-Arabi: Bayn al-Kawniya wa-al-Tahayuz, Dirasa fi Anmat al-Talaqi wa-Rihanatuha’ (The Migration of Deconstruction to Arab Criticism: Universality vs. Partiality, a Study of Reception Patterns and Their Stakes) by Dr. Ahmed El Jorti from Morocco, published by Dar Fadaat Publishing and Distribution in 2022
• ‘An-nass wa-al-la-nass fi Daw’ Maayeer al-Thaqafa al-Markaziya (Malhamat al-Maghazi al-Moriskiya Namuthajan)’ (The Value of Text in Light of the Central Culture Criteria (The Epic of the Moorish Maghazi Model)) by Eslam Abouzid from Syria, published by Dar Kunouz Al-Marefa Publishing and Distribution in 2022
• ‘Al-Jasad fi al-Tajriba al-Sufiya (The Body in the Sufi Experience) by Dr. Asma Khoualdia from Tunisia, published by Difaf Publishing, El-lkhtilef and Librairie Dar Al Amane in 2022
• ‘Mara’i an-Nisaa’: Dirasat fi Kitabat al-That an-Nisaa’iya al-Aarabiya’ (Women Views: Studies on Arab Women Self Writings) by Dr. Jalila Al Tritar from Tunisia, published by La Maison Tunisienne Du Livre in 2021
• ‘Naqd an-Naqd wa-an-Nathariyat al-Adabiya wa-al-Naqdiya: Al-Maarifa wa-as-Sulta’ (Criticism of Criticism and Literary and Critical Theories: Knowledge and Power) by Dr. Hamid Lahmidani from Morocco, published by Centre de Recherches Sémiotique et Etudes Culturelles in 2022
• ‘Al-Manhaj at-Tawasuli wa-Aliyyatuh, Musiqa al-Ala: Namuthaj Noobat al-Hijaz al-Mashriqi’ (The Communication Approach and its Mechanisms, the Music of Instruments: The Model of the Eastern Hijaz Nuba) by Khalid Hilali from Morocco, published by Afrique Orient in 2021
• ‘Jamaliyat al-Ashkal al-Murakaba wa-al-Mutakhayala fi Makhtootat al-Qazwini: Aaja’ib al Makhlooqat wa-Ghara’ib al-Mawjoodat’ (Aesthetic of Imagined and Formed Figures at Al-Qazwini Manuscript: The Wonders of Creatures and the Marvels of Creation) by Dr. Saba Qays Al Yasiri from Iraq, published by Dar Al-Rafidain in 2022
• ‘Mu’jam Mustalahat al-Funoon al-Basariya’ (Visual Arts Glossary) by Sami Ben Ameur from Tunisia, published by Dar Almokadima in 2021
• ‘Mutthaf al-Adab: Al-Adab wa-at-Tarikh wa-al-Hawiya’ (Literature Museum: Literature, History, and Identity) by Chokri Mabkhout from Tunisia, published by Masciliana Editions in 2022
• ‘Suwar al-Wujood fi al-Cinema wa-al-Falsafa’ (Images of Existence in Cinema and Philosophy) by Mohammed Nouraldin Affaya from Morocco, published by Le Centre Culturel du Livre in 2022.

The longlist for the ‘Contribution to the Development of Nations’ category includes 11 titles from nine countries: Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Mauritania, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Morocco. The longlisted titles are:

• ‘Al-Muwatana: Min Waai al-That ila Waai as-Siyasa’ (Citizenship: From Self Awareness to Political Awareness) by Dr. Salah Nayouf from Syria, published by Dar Alayam Publishing and Distribution in 2022
• ‘Al-Muthaqafoon al-Misriyoon wa-Dawruhum fi Thawarat 1919’ (Egyptian Intellectuals and Their Role in the 1919 Revolution) by Amal Saad Zaghloul from Egypt, published by Al Mahrousa Center for Publishing, Press Services and Information in 2022
• ‘Hadatha Thahruha ila al-Jidar: Qira’at fi at-Tahawulat al-Thaqafiya fi Mujtama’at al-Khaleej wa-al-Jazira al-Aarabiya’ (Modernism with its Back to the Wall: Readings into Cultural Transformations in Gulf and Arab Societies) by Hassan Madan from Bahrain, published by Dar Al-Rafidain in 2021
• ‘Hurras al-Miyah: Al-Jafaf wa-al-Taghyeer al-Manakhi fi al-Iraq’ (Water Guards: Drought and Climate Change in Iraq) by Khaled Sulaiman from Canada/Iraq, published by Dar Al-Mada for Media, Culture and Arts in 2020
• ‘Ad-Deen wa-al-Karama al-Insaniya’ (Religion and Human Dignity) by Dr. Abdul Jabbar Al Rifaei from Iraq, published by Dar Al-Rafidain and Center of Philosophy of Religion Studies in 2022
• ‘Az-Zaman wa-al-Uloohiya: Bayn al-Falsafa al-Islamiya wa Fann al-Khatt al-Aarabi’ (Time and Divinity Between Islamic Philosophy and Arabic Calligraphy) by Dr. Ridha Jawadi from Tunisia, published by Dar Al-Kalam Publishing and Distribution in 2020
• ‘Al-Malik Faisal al-Awwal 1883-1933: Adwaruh Al-Taarikhia wa Mashrueatuh Al-Nahdawia (King Faisal I, 1883-1933: His Historical Roles and Renaissance Projects) by Sayyar Al Jamil from Canada/Iraq, published by Centre for Arab Unity Studies in 2021
• ‘Al-Fikr al-Tarjami: Haythiyat al-Mi’na al-Ha’ir bayn al-Ana wa-al-Akhar’ (Translational Thought: Viewpoints Regarding the Confused Meaning between the Self and the Other) by Aissani Belkacem from Algeria, published by Difaf Publishing and El-lkhtilef Publishing in 2022
• ‘Ghanimat Harb: At-Tobb al-Hadith fi al-Maghrib 1888-1940’ (A Prize of War: Modern Medicine in Morocco 1888-1940) by Lahcen Laassibi from Morocco, published by Le Centre Culturel du Livre in 2022
• ‘Al-Lugha al-Aarabiya fi at-Tarikh al-Insani’ (Arabic Language in Human History) by Mohamed Mohamed Ali from Mauritania, published by Arabic Language Education Centre for Gulf States in 2021
• ‘Mawt al-Metaphysiqia bayn al-Lahoot wa-al-Falsafa’ (The Death of Metaphysics Between Theology and Philosophy) by Najib George Awad from USA/Lebanon, published by Mominoun Without Borders Publishing and Distribution in 2022.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award will soon be announcing the longlisted entries for the remaining categories.

The SZBA honours the outstanding achievements of innovators and thinkers in literature, the arts, and humanities in Arabic and other languages. It aims to advance Arabic literature and culture, providing new opportunities for Arabic-language writers. Authors writing about Arab culture and civilisation in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian also are recognised by the Awards.

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