Cote D’Ivoire’s Prix Ivoire 2019 finalists announced.

The finalists for Prix Ivoire 2019, the leading literary prize from Cote D’Ivoire, were announced on August 9, 2019.

The Prix Ivoire is an award created by Akwaba Culture, an Ivorian law association in 2008. Open to writers from Africa and its Diasporas, the winner gets a two million CFA francs (about 3,000 euros) cheque, a trophy and attends the Geneva Book Fair in 2020. It is sponsored by the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Culture and Francophonie, the International Organization of La Francophonie, the French Embassy in Abidjan and the Librairie de France Group of Ivory Coast.

Previous winners of the Prix Ivoire have been 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), Racine Kane (Sénégal) (2008).

In 2019, forty-four books from 9 countries were read by the pre-jury composed of literary critics Michel Koffi (president), Auguste Gnaléhi, Serge Grah and Henri N’koumo. The Akwaba Culture association have announced those who are in the running for this year’s honours. They are;

• Khalil Diallo (Sénégal), A L’orée Du Trépas, roman, éd. L’Harmattan Sénégal, 2018.
• Etty Macaire (Côte d’Ivoire), Le Chant Du Korafola, poésie, éd. L’Harmattan Côte d’Ivoire.
• Abdoulaye Fodé Ndione (Sénégal), Cœur En Location, éd. NEAS, 2018.
• Daouda Mbouobouo (Cameroun), Le Fossé Des Baobabs, roman, éd. Proximité, 2018).
• Isabelle Rochet (Côte d’Ivoire), Le Savon De La Forêt, roman, éd. L’Harmattan, 2019.

Author Werewere Liking is the chair of the final jury responsible for the designation of the winner among these five finalists.

The 12th Prix Ivoire will be awarded at a ceremony in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Saturday November 23, 2019.