Fifth Edition of the Abdelwaheb Ben Ayed Foundation Literary Awards
The fifth edition of the Abdelwaheb Ben Ayed Foundation (FABA) literary awards has established itself as a major event in the Tunisian literary season. The award ceremony was held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, in Tunis, and paid tribute to the late Abdelwaheb Ben Ayed.
The jury president, Samia Kassab Charfi, an academic and professor of literature, emphasized that these awards significantly contribute to the promotion and development of Tunisian novels.
The jury was carefully composed to balance genres and generations, consisting of three men (Abderraouf Medelgi, Adel Khedher, Mabrouk Mabrouk Mannaï) and three women (Thouraya Belkahia, Samia Dridi, Hind Soudan). This diversity, in terms of age and specialty - French and Arabic literature - allowed for rich and cross-disciplinary debates.
It is worth noting that the jury received over 48 high-quality works. Originality, literary creation, and the ability to captivate the reader were at the heart of the evaluation, along with the modernity of writing.
The competing works covered a wide range of genres: novels, short stories, youth literature, and essays mixed with fiction. This variety testifies to the vitality of Tunisian literary creation and the plurality of voices expressed.
Shortlists of the 5th Edition
Category: Article - Arabic and French
- Winner: Hichem Abdessamad
- Title: La Gloire et la puissance
- Publisher: AC EDITIONS
- Prize Value: 20,000 dinars
Category: Youth Literature & Young Readers
- Winner 1: Fethia Chouikha Abichou
- Title: بوح الفراخ
- Publisher: دار يس للنشر
- Prize Value: 5,000 dinars
- Winner 2: Nada Dagdoug
- Title: Yeza
- Publisher: La voix du livres
- Prize Value: 5,000 dinars
Category: Novel and Short Stories - French Language
- Winner: Héla Msellati
- Title: La vie en sauce
- Publisher: Hkeyat editions
- Prize Value: 20,000 dinars
Category: Novel and Short Stories - Arabic Language
- Winner: Zied Bouchoucha
- Title: الدفتر الوردي
- Publisher: Editions POP LIBRIS
- Prize Value: 20,000 dinars
In conclusion, this fifth edition of the FABA awards not only showcases the richness of Tunisian literary production but also highlights the essential role of books in education, critical thinking, and cultural development.
