Aya Mansour (right) and Gerges Shokry
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation and the University of Granada have announced the winners of the second cycle of the Radwa Ashour Award – a prestigious accolade recognising exceptional contributions to Arabic literature.
The recipients of this year’s award showcase the creativity and depth of contemporary writing in two categories: ‘40 and Under’ and ‘Over 40’.
The winners of the second cycle of the Award are: Aya Mansour from Iraq, honoured in the ‘40 and Under’ category for her work ‘Women of the Long River’ which is a project built on the oral memory of women concerning the war on Iraq and its occupation, while in the ‘Over 40’ category, the award was given to Gerges Shokry from Egypt for his work ‘About a Poet from Troy’ noted for the rewriting of the epic of Troy through a series of poetic texts that adopt a different perspective, embodied in “an unknown, historically marginalised Trojan poet,” so as to offer “the wisdom of the vanquished” against the Greek victor’s narrative, steeped in hubris.
These winners reflect the award’s commitment to supporting and celebrating diverse voices within the Arabic literary landscape.
Reflecting on his win, Gerges Shokry said: “Winning an award that bears the name of the writer Radwa Ashour is a source of joy, and that is what encouraged me to apply for the prize named after a writer and professor I hold in high esteem, especially since I was fortunate enough to meet her and get to know her as a writer and a person, a thinker who played an active role in Egyptian cultural life.
“Undoubtedly the idea is exciting – it is not just an award given to a writer, but a prize tied to the production of a creative work, which sets it apart from other awards.
Winning the prize for a project a writer proposes also pushes them to complete it with greater enthusiasm – when the committee selected the project ‘A Poet from Troy’ from among many submitted projects, I became determined to finish it. Likewise, the residency in Granada, with all the city’s history in the Arab imagination, will surely be a source of inspiration. Discussing the project in a seminar at the end of the residency will also undoubtedly be exciting and inspiring for the writer.”
Speaking about her experience, writer Aya Mansour said: “This is a deeply meaningful moment for me. Over the years, my heart has grown with every testimony I have had the privilege of hearing from women. It expanded even further in the knowledge that these voices, stories, and memories are now woven into the legacy of Radwa Ashour – woman, writer, mother, wife, and, above all, a deeply humane soul whose enduring literary warmth continues to touch and inspire us.
“My project is dedicated to the stories and testimonies of Iraqi women who lived through decades of war, sanctions, violence, and profound social transformations. This award offers a genuine opportunity for these stories to move beyond the boundaries of private memory and enter the public sphere. The women who endured these experiences have carried their impact for many years, while so many of their testimonies have remained undocumented and overlooked.”
