Rabat – The Organization Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) announced today that Moroccan writer Khalid Lyamlahy has been chosen as a finalist for the Prize of the Five Continents of the Francophonie 2024 with his work “Evocation d’un mémorial à Venise.”
Inspired by the tragic story of a migrant, Khalid Lyamlahy writes about Pateh, a Gambian migrant who, in January 2017, hurled himself into Venice’s Grand Canal and took his own life while onlookers watched.
Of 226 pieces entered for this edition, the novel was nominated alongside ten other finalists.
A prize of €15,000 is awarded to the winner of the Prize of the Five Continents of the Francophonie2024, which recognizes original works of French-language narrative fiction, be it a novel, story, or collection of short stories.
The winner for the Five Continents Prize will be announced in February 2024, while the award ceremony will take place in March, commemorating International Francophonie Day.
The Prize of the Five Continents of the Francophonie 2024, created and administered by the OIF, spotlights literary talent that reflects the cultural and editorial variety of the French language throughout its five continents and on the global literary stage.
Regardless of the author’s country or level of literary maturity, the prize is dedicated to narrative fiction work that was written only in French and published between May 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.
Read also: Moroccan Novelist Wins France’s Student Novel Prize
