KUWAIT CITY, 6 October 2024 – The Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain Cultural Foundation has announced the winners of the 19th session of the Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain Prize for Poetic Creativity. Prizes totalling 135,000 USD have been awarded to seven poets and critics from six countries.
The 19th session received 905 submissions between May and December 2023.
The Honorary Award, valued at 50,000 USD, was awarded to the Kuwaiti poet Dr Khalifa Al‑Waqyan in recognition of his poetic career.
The Poetry Criticism Prize, valued at 40,000 USD, was shared between Dr Ahmed Al‑Jouwa of Tunisia, for Lyricism and Issues of Commitment in Mahmoud Darwish’s Later Poetry, and Dr Wahb Romeih of Syria, for Poetry and Memory.
The Best Poetry Collection Prize, valued at 20,000 USD, was awarded to Latifa Hassani of Algeria for The Philosophy of the Butterfly.
The Best Poem Prize, valued at 10,000 USD, was awarded to Abdelmoneim Al‑Oqbi of Egypt for Mirrors of Time.
The Best Poetry Collection Prize for poets under 35, valued at 10,000 USD, was awarded to Jaafar Hajjawi of Jordan for A Runner Around My Father’s Palm.
The Best Poem Prize for poets under 35, valued at 5,000 USD, was awarded to Amr Al‑Bata of Egypt for Until Life Ends.