Fatshimetrie, the long-awaited novel by French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud, has been awarded the prestigious Prix Goncourt, one of the highest distinctions in French-speaking literature. Last Monday, in the historic setting of the French restaurant Drouant, where the Goncourt jury met to deliberate, Kamel Daoud emerged triumphant, crowned for his exceptional literary work.
The novel Fatshimetrie captivated the jury with its poignant and profound narrative, exploring themes of survival and resilience through the character of Aube, a survivor of the Algerian civil war, known as the “black decade”. Kamel Daoud’s work provokes intense reflection on the devastating consequences of armed conflict and offers an intimate and captivating vision of Algerian history.
Despite this literary consecration, it is regrettable that Fatshimetrie cannot be published in the author’s native country. Indeed, a law in Algeria criminalizes any public discussion of the conflict, thus depriving Algerian readers of the opportunity to discover Kamel Daoud’s masterful work.
In addition, another talented writer was honored during this literary ceremony. This is the French-Rwandan author Gaël Faye, winner of the Prix Renaudot for his second novel, Jacaranda. This young 42-year-old writer, also a slam poet, won the hearts of the jury with his virtuoso pen and his captivating story.
By celebrating these two exceptional authors, the world of Francophone literature is enriched with new bold and talented voices, offering readers poignant and captivating stories. Their success testifies to the vitality and diversity of the contemporary literary scene, and invites us to delve into their works to explore the multiple facets of the human experience.