Marrakech celebrates English literature

For Yassine Adnane, president of the Marrakech English Book Festival, this event is a unique platform to highlight Moroccan authors who write in English, a growing trend in the country's literary landscape, while reminding us that the tradition of writing in English is not new. In this regard, the Festival welcomes authors who have been writing in English since the 1960s, testifying to a rich and little-known literary tradition.

With a programme rich in literary meetings with Moroccan and international authors, interactive "Open mics" offering a space for free and creative expression, and a special workshop to introduce children to writing and reading in the English language, the Festival is part of a dynamic celebration of the literary and cultural diversity of Marrakech, while highlighting Moroccan writers who express themselves in English.

New collaborations Among the greatest achievements of this edition is the diversity of prestigious partners that will allow the Festival to progress significantly. The partnership with Dar El Bacha Museum is part of a desire to enhance the cultural heritage of Marrakech and strengthen the role of museums as living spaces for cultural dialogue.

The Marrakech School of Visual Arts (ESAV) also joins this great initiative by signing an unprecedented collaboration between the festival and the school's graphic design department, in order to strengthen the links between literature and visual arts.

The British Academy School and the Dar Bellarj Foundation are also partnering to design a programme for children, a key element of this edition, with its creative and reading workshops. A literary prize This year is special in that it sees the birth of the Costa Goldix National Book Prize, created to reward Moroccan writers who express themselves in English. Three works were in competition for this prestigious prize: "Beneath the Table", a self-published work by Ghita Ayas Aouman (2024), "The House on Butterfly Street", a novel by Oum Hani Alaoui published by La Croisée des Chemins editions (2023) and, finally, "The Testament and Other Modern Stories", a collection of modern stories written by Moubarak Ahlal and published by Éditions Imaniya (2023).

It was finally Oum Hani Alaoui who won this first edition for her novel "The House on Butterfly Street", praised for its excellent storytelling and its exploration of social and cultural dynamics. The Festival will therefore put the book at the heart of its programming and the prize-giving ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Thanks to the Marrakech English Book Festival, Morocco opens up to the world in a different way and reveals to it what is most intimate and precious: the stories and ideas of its citizens in a more universal and inclusive language.