ABU DHABI// A shortlist of writers from the region has been drawn up by judges for this year’s Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
Authors have been selected for their contribution to the development of nations, literary and art criticism, translation, children’s literature, literature and Arab culture in other languages as well as the best young author.
The award, which is in its eighth year, is presented to outstanding Arab writers, intellectuals, publishers as well as young authors whose writings and translations have helped enrich Arab culture, literature and social life.
“We appraised works against stringent, quantifiable scoring criteria to arrive at three to four eligible contenders per category in light of a rigorous review of the judges’ panel reports,” said Dr Ali bin Tamim, secretary general of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
The winners will be announced next month and the awards will be presented on May 4 to coincide with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which will run from April 30 to May 5.
The nominations were made after the award’s committee met in Abu Dhabi to assess reports submitted by judges. Every year, the committee appoints a group of regional and international literary figures as judges, who serve on nine separate selection committees.
There are three to five judges per category. After each selection committee submits its nominations, the names are reviewed and endorsed by the board of trustees, presided by Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA).
The award was instituted in 2007 as a tribute to Sheikh Zayed, the founding President, for his pioneering role in national unity and the country’s development. It is an independent cultural award with a purse of Dh7 million and is administered by ADTCA.
Last year, Dr Sheikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar mosque in Egypt, was recognised as the cultural personality of the year. An academic and researcher, he was praised for his role in adopting the moderate path and encouraging a culture of tolerance, dialogue and protection of the civil society.
Dr Al Tayyeb used his influential positions and publications to demonstrate a moderate way from extremism and portrayed Islamic thought and consistently refused violence and aggression, in words, thoughts or actions between peoples.
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