Bait Al Gasham Arab Translation Prize revealed the winners of its first edition, awarding the top spot in the 'Authors' category to Iraqi poet Yas al Saadi for his poetry collection 'Brief News of Obsessions'.
In the 'Translators' category, American translator Marilyn Booth secured first place for her translation of Jean Dost's book 'Safe Corridor'.
The announcement took place during a ceremony at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of His Highness Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda al Said, Vice Chancellor, Sultan Qaboos University.
Bit Al Ghusham Arab Translation Prize focuses on translating Arabic literature into English, recognising the crucial role translation plays in building bridges of knowledge and understanding between people, cultures, and languages worldwide.
The prize began accepting submissions in April 2023 and closed in July 2023, using dedicated online application forms for each category. The total submissions for the Authors category were 127 works, spanning various literary genres such as novels, short stories, poetry collections, and autobiographies, submitted by participants from different countries worldwide.
After careful examination and evaluation, the judges shortlisted five works in the Authors category and announced all literary works submitted in the Translators category as an acknowledgment of their effort and dedication to translating Arabic literature. The judges then unanimously decided the winners for each category.
PRIZE OBJECTIVES
Bait Al Gasham Arab Translation Prize aims to fill the significant gap in translating and publishing contemporary Arabic literature into English. It strives to introduce English-speaking readers worldwide to the richness of modern Arabic literary production and empower Arab authors to reach a global audience.
The need for translation has become apparent with cultural openness among people, facilitating understanding in their business, economic matters, and knowledge exchange.
Throughout history, from the civilisations of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt to the Roman era, the Islamic state, and the Renaissance in Europe, translation has played a crucial role in reshaping human concepts, advancing sciences and knowledge, and fostering experiences, contributing to the development of human existence and promoting its growth towards coexistence and mutual understanding.
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