Azza Filali’s novel Malentendues won the Prix Ivoire for African Literature in Francophone Expression 2024 on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Prix Ivoire for African Literature in Francophone Expression or simply Prix Ivoire is a literary award created by Akwaba Culture, an Ivorian law association in 2008. It rewards works published or translated into French relating to African Literature, produced by African writers or publishers established on the continent or the diaspora. Open to writers from Africa and its Diasporas, the winner gets a two million CFA francs (about 3,000 euros) cash prize, a trophy, and attends the Geneva Book Fair. It is sponsored by the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Culture, Francophonie the International Organization of La Francophonie, the French Embassy in Abidjan, and the Librairie de France Group of Ivory Coast.
Previous winners of Prix Ivoire have been Jennifer Richard (2023), Sami Tchak (2022), Blaise Ndala (2021), Isabelle Rochet (2019), Gauz (Armand), Côte d’Ivoire (2018), Johary Ravaloson (Madagascar) (2017), Marijosé Alie (Martinique) (2016), Kettly Mars (Haïti) (2015), Bahaa Trabelsi (Maroc) (2014), Hemley Boum (Cameroun) (2013), Mariama N’doye (Sénégal) (2012), Frédéric Grah Mel (Côte d’Ivoire) (2011), Elisabeth Ewombè-Moundo (Cameroun) (2010), Tiburce Koffi (Côte d’Ivoire) (2009), and Racine Kane (Sénégal) (2008).
The 2024 journey started with the announcement of the finalists from the 76 titles from 16 countries that were submitted on Friday, August 9. The texts then went to the final jury chaired by writer and playwright Werewere-Liking and their winner is Malentendues by Azza Filali published by Éditions Elyzad.
Azza Filali is a Tunisian doctor and author of the novels L’Heure du cru, for which she received the Prix Spécial du Jury Comar; Ouatann, for which she received the Prix Comar in 2012; and Les Intranquilles. She contributes to the newspaper La Press de Tunisie. Malentendues (English: Misunderstandings) by Azza Filali published by Éditions Elyzad has the following blurb;
In the middle of a heatwave, Emna, a lawyer in Tunis, accepts a mission to Djerba to assess the autonomy of the women of Tezdaïne, a village known for its conservatism. Rubbing shoulders with these Djerbian women cloistered in age-old traditions, Emna sees her own bearings waver: is her modernism just a decoy? What about gender equality? Where does the essential lie? On the island crushed by light, she is reborn to life. Here, Azza Filali celebrates these women, their sincerity, their admirable courage, their relationship with the body and sexuality, a thousand miles from received ideas. A vibrant and sensual painting, this novel offers a sharp look at the condition of women today in Tunisia.
A special mention was awarded to Charline Effah for her novel Les Femmes de Bidibidi, which addresses the stories of refugee women in the Bidibidi camp in Uganda.
The Tunisian winner will be feted at a ceremony in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
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