Closing Ceremony of the 16th Arab Mustapha Azzouz Children's Literature Prize 2025
The closing ceremony of the 16th Arab Mustapha Azzouz Children's Literature Prize 2025 took place recently over two days at the Tunis City of Culture, the capital.
Organized in partnership between the Arab Children's Literature Forum and the Arab Tunisian Bank (ATB), the event brought together a jury comprising writers Nafla Dhahab, Amal Mokhtar, Professor Mohamed Al-Qadi, Hedi Khadhraoui, and researcher Fathi Ben Maamer. The jury examined 117 texts submitted by authors and creators of literature for adolescents, as well as creative texts written by young writers.
During the high-level closing ceremony, the winners of the different categories were revealed and awarded.
Tunisian writer Ichraf Ben Mourad, residing in Qatar, won the first prize for her novel "Dream of Light" (حلم نور), worth 12,000 Tunisian dinars (DT).
The second prize, worth 8,000 DT, was awarded to Tunisian writer Basma Ghandouzi for her novel "Colors of Life" (ألوان الحياة).
The third prize, worth 5,000 DT, was awarded to Tunisian writer Ibrahim Riahi for his novel "The Boy with the Lazy Eye" (الفتى ذو العين الكسولة).
Additionally, the jury awarded three financial prizes of 1,000 DT each to the young winners of the competition:
- Nourcine Charfi from Algeria for her story "Olive Seeds" (بذور الزيتون)
- Moatassam Billah Wathek Midani from Algeria for his novel "Let's Live with Respect" (لنعش باحترام)
- Islam Majoul from Tunisia for his story "Where Freedom Is, There Is the Homeland" (حيث تكون الحرية.. يكون الوطن)
During the closing ceremony, a posthumous tribute was paid to the late Faraj Chouchane, a prominent figure in culture and media) and former scientific advisor to the Prize.
Madame Anissa Bouhajba Saâdaoui, former director of communication at the Arab Tunisian Bank, was also honored in recognition of her role in creating and developing the Arab Mustapha Azzouz Children's Literature Prize, and for encouraging the bank's regular support.
The closing activities began with the welcome of 60 children who participated in workshops organized on the sidelines of the event, in cooperation with the Ministry of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly.
This created a refreshing carnival atmosphere for the Arab Children's Literature Forum, whose opening was supervised by Dr. Mohamed Ait Mihoub, President of the Arab Children's Literature Forum, and Madame Jamila Bel Tayeb, General Director of Childhood.
This year, the forum focused on the theme of "Humor, Comedy, and Play in Children's Literature Creation," and presented ten scientific interventions by researchers Mohamed El Mai, Samia Dridi, El Idy Jallouli (Algeria), Chafik Jendoubi, Adel Khadhra, Noureddine Krediss, Moawia Al Farjani, Ridha Ben Salah, Ali Boujdidi, and Soumaya Ben Salem.
