The La Mamounia literary award (French: ''prix de La Mamounia'') was a Moroccan literary prize founded to promote Moroccan literature written in French. It was awarded from 2010 to 2015 and carried a prize money of 200,000

dirhams The dirham, dirhem or dirhm ( ar, درهم) is a silver unit of currency historically and currently used by several Arab and Arab influenced states. The term has also been used as a related unit of mass. Unit of mass The dirham was a un ...

(about $22,000 in 2015).Badra Berrissoul
''5 nominés au prix de la littérature de La Mamounia''
''L'economiste'', 2015-07-09 The award was donated by the

La Mamounia La Mamounia (Arabic: مامونية) is a five-star hotel in Marrakech, Morocco, opposite the Kutubiyya Mosque. It is one of The Leading Hotels of the World. For several years, ''Condé Nast Traveler'' has named La Mamounia as the best hotel in ...

hotel in

Marrakesh Marrakesh or Marrakech ( or ; ar, مراكش, murrākuš, ; ber, ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, translit=mṛṛakc}) is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakes ...

, which also hosted the award ceremonies every year. A jury consisting of well known literary figures selected the recipient out of a varying number of nominations every year. From 2011 on the jury was led by the French writer and critic

Christine Orban Christine may refer to: People * Christine (name), a female given name Film * ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei'' * ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name * ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...

as president. Other jury members included the writers Douglas Kennedy (USA),

Marie Laberge Marie Laberge (born November 29, 1950) is a Quebec actress, educator and writer. Biography She was born in Quebec City and studied dance with Ludmilla Chiriaeff. Laberge began the study of journalism at Laval University but entered the Conservat ...

(Canada),

Alain Mabanckou Alain Mabanckou (born 24 February 1966) is a novelist, journalist, poet, and academic, a French citizen born in the Republic of the Congo, he is currently a Professor of Literature at UCLA. He is best known for his novels and non-fiction writing ...

(Republic of the Congo), and

Mouna Hachim Mouna Hachim (born 24 October 1967) is a Moroccan writer and journalist. She has published several novels and non-fiction books. She has also created documentaries. Early life and education Mouna Hachim was born in Casablanca, 24 October 1967.Lou ...

(Morocco). Due to financial issues the prize was not awarded after 2015.''Prix littéraire : La 7e édition du prix de la Mamounia n’aura pas lieu''
''Yabiladi'', 2016-06-09

Recipients

*2010:

Mahi Binebine Mahi Binebine ( ar, ماحي بنيبين) is a Moroccan painter and novelist born in Marrakech in 1959. Binebine has written six novels which have been translated into various languages. Career Born in 1959 in Marrakech, Mahi Binebine moved in ...

*2011:

Mohamed Leftah Mohamed Leftah (1946 – 20 July 2008) was a Moroccan novelist and literary critic who wrote in French. He wrote ten novels and worked for ''Matin du Sahara'' and ''Temps du Maroc''. Biography Leftah was born in 1946 in Settat, Morocco. He ...

*2012:

Mohamed Nedali Muhammad was an Islamic prophet and a religious and political leader who preached and established Islam. Muhammad and variations may also refer to: * Muhammad (name), a given name and surname, and list of people with the name and its variations ...

*2013:

Rachid O Rachid O. (born 1970) is a Moroccan writer. He was born in Rabat; after studying in Morocco, he went to live in France. He writes mainly about the equilibrium between the Muslim world and homosexuality. His work ''Chocolat chaud'', is autofic ...

*2014: Réda Dalil *2015:

Leïla Slimani Leïla Slimani (born 3 October 1981) is a Franco-Moroccan writer and journalist. She is also a French diplomat in her capacity as the personal representative of the French president Emmanuel Macron to the '' Organisation internationale de la Fran ...

References

{{reflist

External links

*Boyd Tonkin
The wonders of Moroccan literature
''The Independent'', 2014-10-02 *Lara Marlowe
''Sex, addiction and shattering tradition in Moroccan literature''
''The Irish Times'', 2015-09-26 *Sue Ryan
''La Mamounia Literary Prize''
''The Arbuturian'', 2013-10-14 Moroccan literary awards