Sharjah: Algerian author Ahlam Mosteghanemi has been named the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ for the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2024. The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) awarded her this recognition for her significant contributions to Arabic literature over the past five decades.
The SIBF annually honors a ‘Cultural Personality’ to celebrate individuals whose work enriches both Arab and global cultural landscapes. The initiative reflects the SBA’s commitment to promoting literature, poetry, and philosophy while encouraging future generations and fostering cultural identity.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, highlighted Mosteghanemi’s impact, saying that her novels resonate with readers of all ages across the Arab world. He emphasized that her work strengthens the connection between society and its creative voices, expanding the influence of Arabic literature.
Ahlam Mosteghanemi’s work focuses on deep social themes, especially the role of women in society, while addressing key historical events that have shaped modern Arab culture. The late Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella once described her as a “shining Algerian sun in Arabic literature.”
Her literary journey began in 1971 with In the Harbour of Days, followed by the highly regarded trilogy Zakirat Al Jasad, Fawda el Hawas, and Aber Sareer. These works remain landmarks in contemporary Arabic literature.
Among her many accolades, Mosteghanemi has won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature and has been recognized by Forbes and Arabian Business as one of the most influential Arab women in culture. She also served as a UNESCO Ambassador for eight years and received the Arab Woman of the Year Award in 2015.
Her novel Zakirat Al Jasad sold over three million copies and is regarded as one of the top 100 Arabic novels of the 20th century.