The 31st Edition of the Abou el-Kacem Chebbi Award Comes to a Close
The curtain fell on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Ksar Saïd Center for Culture, Arts, and Letters, marking the end of the 31st edition of the Abou el-Kacem Chebbi Award, presented by the Banque de Tunisie (BT). This year's edition crowned Egyptian writer Dr. Kamilia Abdelfattah, who won the award for her novel "Que tu oscilles". The honorary prize was awarded to Tunisian sociologist Dr. Tahar Labib in recognition of his pioneering contributions to humanist thought and in-depth research in sociology.
A Prestigious Ceremony
The ceremony brought together a large number of BT executives, led by Director General Hichem Rebai, as well as a range of cultural, intellectual, and creative figures. The ambassadors of the State of Qatar and the State of Palestine in Tunisia were also in attendance.
The Winners
Poet and jury president Dr. Moncef Ouhaïbi announced the winners of this prestigious Arab award, noting that over 40 novels from Tunisia and other Arab countries had been submitted. After a first selection, 20 novels were shortlisted, and then four works were chosen for the final shortlist. Some novels were excluded when it was discovered that they had already participated in other competitions, contrary to the conditions of participation in the Abou el-Kacem Chebbi Award.
A Tribute to Creativity
Egyptian winner Dr. Kamilia Abdelfattah expressed her pride in receiving this award, praising its openness to all forms of creative expression, without favoring a particular literary genre. She highlighted that this openness testifies to the breadth of Chebbi's talent and the ability of his name to embody creation in all its diversity.
A Victory for Free Thought
Sociologist Tahar Labib paid tribute to the BT, seeing this distinction as a victory for free and resistant thought. He declared that he shared this award with the children of Gaza.
An Artistic Celebration
The closing ceremony offered many artistic moments, alternating between poetry and novel, including poems by Mahmoud Darwich interpreted by actress Wahida Dridi and excerpts from the award-winning novel read by Jamal Sassi.
Honoring Young Talent
The presence of sisters Bissan and Bilssan Kouka, winners of the Dubai Arabic Reading Challenge 2025, marked the event. They were honored by the BT's Director General, alongside several cultural, creative, and media figures. The ceremony also celebrated the guest of honor of this edition: Qatari poet and playwright Khaled Al-Jaber.
