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Rabat – Moroccan writer and architect Alaa Halifi won the “Al-Rafidain” first Book Awards 2021.
The author won the award for his book “Praise of Madness,” a fiction novel set in the city of Casablanca.
The Lebanese publishing house Dar Al-Rafidain organized the competition in collaboration with Iraq’s “Editions Daraj.”
The literary award honors authors of Arabic literature and promotes young writers from around the world.
Alaa Halifi’s Praise of Madness novel made history as the first Moroccan literary work to win the award.
Among 200 literary works, Halifi’s novel was chosen and awarded.
“The power of the book lies in its strong ability to dive deep into the worlds of Casablanca,” the awarding panel said.
For the panel, the book revolves around the themes of loneliness and alienation that the characters of the novel experiences within the “monster city” of Casablanca.
Iraqi writer Falah Rahim, who is also the president of the awarding panel, said that the book presents “Casablanca and its citizens with a very refined style, and an extremely throughout-out narrative mechanics, eager for innovation.”
In addition to offering monetary rewards, the award ceremony will promote the publication of winning works and its international distribution.
