Djaïli Amadou Amal’s novel Coeur du Sahel was named the winner of Grand Prix Littéraire du Mont Cameroun in Yaoundé, Cameroon on May 18, 2023.
L’association des poètes et écrivains du Cameroun (APEC) (English: The Association of Poets and Writers of Cameroon) started a new award called Grand Prix Littéraire du Mont Cameroun. Its premise is that Cameroon is a land of outstanding literary talent that regularly received literary distinctions internationally. APEC, under the leadership of Pabe Mongo (real name Dr Pascal Bekolo Bekolo), thought it was time that authors or cultural enterprises, working in the production, or in the promotion of the book, in particular, got local honours.
The winners of the first edition were announced at a ceremony at the National Museum in Yaoundé presided by Minister David Abouem à Tchoyi. There main Grand Prix Littéraire du Mont Cameroun was awarded to Coeur du Sahel, Djaïli Amadou Amal. Below is the author receiving her award;
Commenting later on Social Media Amal said, “It is always a particular accent to be distinguished at home. And even more for a novel that deals with the major issues of global warming, the abuses of Boko Haram, religious and social intolerance, and violence against women. Coeur du Sahel. Happy to be the winner of the Literary Grand Prize of Mount Cameroon 2022. I dedicate this prestigious distinction to the victims of the Sahel.”
Also feted on the evening Manga Thérèse whose novel Under My Roof, published by CLEF Ministries.
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