The Golden Comar Prize was created in 1997 by the insurance company Assurances Comar (Tunisie) to support literary creation, and encourage Tunisian writers, especially novelists.
The 18th edition of the Golden Comar Prize was held on April 20, 2014 at the Municipal Theatre of Tunis.
The Arabic version of the prize was awarded to Mohamed El Bardi for his novel (Diwan El Mawajaa) The Collection of Pains.
The French version of the prize was awarded to Saber Mansouri for his novel (Je suis né huit fois) I Was Born Eight Times.
The other prizes went as follows:
*Arabic language prizes:
-The Jury Special Prize was awarded to Dr. Emna Rmili Oueslati for her novel (Al Baki) What Remains.
-Discovery Prize was awarded to Fathi Jamil for his novel (Bab El Bhar) Bab El Bhar “The Door of the Sea”.
*French language prizes:
-The Jury Special Prize was awarded to Khaoula Hosni for her novel (D.A.B.D.A) D.A.B.D.A.
-Discovery Prize was awarded to Nejib Turki for his novel (Le destin apprivoisé) The Tamed Fate.
19 novels in Arabic and 13 novels in French were shortlisted to compete for the afore-mentioned prizes.
As far as the Arabic section is concerned, the judges for this 18th edition are Hayett Saieb (a journalist), Saloua Saadaoui, (a university teacher specialized in fiction studies), Kamel Eddine Gaha (a university teacher specialized in 18th century French literature), Chokri Mabkhout (a professor specialized in Arabic literature) and Abdeljabbar Eleuch (a novelist).
As far as the French section is concerned, the judges are Meriem Belkhadhi-Kaffel (a university teacher and literary critic), Ahlem Ghayaza (a university teacher), Najet Tnani (a professor), Samir Marzouki (a professor specialized in French literature) and Nabil Radhouane (a university teacher).
Golden Comar Awarding Ceremony 2014 Image from Agence Tunis Afrique Presse.
Extracts from the awarding ceremony taken from the website of the private Tunisian radio SHEMSFM Tunisie.
§ Congratulations to all the winners! §
Tunisian Literature (in English) 