Egyptian writer Salwa Bakr becomes first laureate of BRICS Literary Award

Following the vote of the international jury, the winner of the BRICS Literary Award was Egyptian writer Salwa Bakr – one of the most prominent representatives of contemporary Arabic prose, author of seven short story collections, seven novels and a play. Her works have been translated into many European languages.

The name of the first laureate of the prize was announced at the BRICS Art Festival, which took place in Khabarovsk from 26 to 30 November. The solemn ceremony at the City Palace of Culture was attended by representatives of the Khabarovsk Krai administration, diplomats, writers, publishers and public figures from BRICS countries and partner states. The information partner of the prize was the Eurasian Media Group.

"The choice of Salwa Bakr as the first laureate of the BRICS Literary Award is a signal for publishers and cultural institutions of our countries. I am confident that her works will be translated into Russian and that her name will become known in the BRICS countries not only to a narrow circle of specialists following the contemporary literary process, but also to the widest readership," said Sergey Demensky, Ambassador of the BRICS Literary Award, Director General of the Eurasian Media Group, and Candidate of Philosophical Sciences.

He noted that Salwa Bakr’s work fully corresponds to the spirit of the prize: her books are written in the most important language for BRICS – "the language of people’s diplomacy", which helps people from different countries to understand one another better, empathise and share common values. The writer herself spoke about this in a recent interview following her inclusion in the shortlist of the prize.

The awarding of the winner will take place in the near future; the date and location will be announced additionally.

A special prize, "For Innovations in Literature", was presented to Indonesian writer Denny JA for his contribution to the creation and development of the genre of the poetic essay, which combines lyrical techniques with factual material.

The National Coordinator of the BRICS Literature Network in Indonesia, Sastri Bakry, emphasised the symbolism of the fact that Indonesia and Egypt were recognised in the first season of the prize: "I am very proud of the writer Salwa Bakr from Egypt, who always speaks on behalf of women [...] I am also proud that Denny received the award 'Special Prize for Innovations in Literature'. Denny truly deserved it, and, without even realising it, he has already elevated the name of Indonesia in the eyes of the whole world."

Kumar Karan, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of India in Vladivostok, noted that the choice of Khabarovsk Krai as the venue for the final of the BRICS Literary Award emphasises its special role as Russia’s Far Eastern gateway and an important cultural bridge between the BRICS countries.

"We are looking to the future with great attention. The third BRICS Traditional Values Forum will take place in India, and it is there that the long list of the BRICS Literary Award 2026 will be presented. For us, this is not merely an honour but an opportunity to develop cultural cooperation even more deeply, which serves as the foundation for strengthening political, economic and human ties between the countries of the association," he noted.

The BRICS Literary Award is a new international award established in November 2024 at the BRICS Traditional Values Forum. The prize supports contemporary authors whose works reflect the cultural and spiritual values of the peoples of the BRICS countries and promotes the dissemination of translations and the publication of books in the languages of the member states.

For the organisation of the prize, a directorate and a jury were formed in each country, nominating candidates who had made a significant contribution to the development of literature. The long list of the prize was announced in Brazil; after a month of voting, 10 finalists remained – one from each country; the shortlist was presented in Jakarta (Indonesia).

Alongside Salwa Bakr, the nominees included Brazilian writer Ana Maria Goncalves, Indian writer and poet Sonu Saini, Chinese writer, columnist and blogger Ma Boyong, Emirati writer and cultural researcher Reem Al-Kamali, Ethiopian writer and public figure Abere Adamu, South African writer and poet Nthabiseng JahRose Jafta, Indonesian writer Denny JA, Russian writer and publicist Aleksey Varlamov, and Iranian writer and poet Mansour Alimoradi.

Photo: BRICS Literary Award