Ibrahim al-Koni, the highly acclaimed Libyan novelist and finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, was named the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year‘ for the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2023 (SIBF 2023).
This acknowledgment emphasizes al-Koni’s exceptional contributions to the world of literature, which have enriched readers’ understanding of culture and heritage.
“The accomplished Libyan author has authored 81 works spanning diverse fields, translated into over 40 languages. Recognized by the esteemed French Lire Magazine among the top 50 contemporary global novelists, and received wide acclaim from cultural, critical, academic, and official spheres worldwide. Ibrahim al-Koni is the recipient of numerous regional and international accolades, notably the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity in 2008.”—Gulf News
Hoopoe Fiction has published English translations of two of his novels, Gold Dust, translated by Elliott Colla (2020) and The Night Will Have Its Say, translated by Nancy Roberts (2022).
