The Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation has announced its shortlist for 2024, and three African authors—Stella Gaitano, Iman Mersal, and Ahmed Naji—are on the list. The prize, now in its nineteenth year, celebrates outstanding translations of Arabic literature into English and comes with a £3,000 award.

This year’s judging panel, chaired by translator Raphael Cohen, included Michael Caines of the Times Literary Supplement, award-winning translator Laura Watkinson, and translation consultant Nariman Youssef. They praised the shortlisted works for their creativity, emotional resonance, and the translators’ ability to bring complex narratives to life.

Edo’s Souls

Stella Gaitano’s Edo’s Souls, translated by Sawad Hussain and published by Dedalus, is the first South Sudanese novel to be translated into English. Set in Sudan in the 1970s, it follows Lucy as she reconstructs the family she lost to war. The judges commended Hussain’s empathetic translation for vividly capturing Gaitano’s world, bringing to life the emotional weight of displacement and survival.

Rotten Evidence

Ahmed Naji’s Rotten Evidence: Reading and Writing in an Egyptian Prison, translated by Katherine Halls and published by McSweeney’s, offers a harrowing and darkly humorous account of his imprisonment for writing a novel deemed offensive by Egyptian authorities. Halls’s translation was lauded for its emotional depth and sharp wit, making this memoir both powerful and accessible.

Traces of Enayat

Iman Mersal’s Traces of Enayat, translated by Robin Moger published by And Other Stories, is a biographical journey into the life of Egyptian writer Enayat al-Zayyat. The judges highlighted Moger’s poetic translation, which interweaves personal, literary, and historical narratives, describing it as “an engrossing and necessary feat of feminist detective work.”

The inclusion of Gaitano, Mersal, and Naji highlights the richness and diversity of African Arabic literature. From the war-torn landscapes of South Sudan to the streets of Cairo, their works reveal deeply personal and political histories, connecting local contexts to universal human experiences.

The winner of the 2024 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize will be announced on January 8, 2025. Other shortlisted works include Before the Queen Falls Asleep by Huzama Habayeb, Lost in Mecca by Bothayna Al-Essa, and Yoghurt and Jam by Lena Merhej.

Congratulations to Stella Gaitano, Iman Mersal, and Ahmed Naji on this remarkable achievement. We can’t wait to see who takes home the prize!