Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed that literature is an arena for civilizations to hold dialogue and that societies that are proud of their literature and celebrate their writers believe in the power of thought, the importance of knowledge and the impact of culture on cultural and human development.
Sheikh Mohammed said so in a blog on platform X in which he congratulated Professor Waciny Laredj, winner of the Great Arab Minds Award in Literature and Arts in recognition of his pioneering role in the Arab literary scene and global knowledge research.
Sheikh Mohammed’s tweeted: “We congratulate Professor Wacini Laredj for winning the Great Arab Minds Award in Literature and Arts in recognition of his outstanding literary contributions.
Professor Laredj wrote more than 30 novels on Arab societies and their culture and environment. His novels have been translated into more than 20 languages and studied in a number of universities around the world.
Professor Laredj holds such positions as Chair Professor at University of Algiers and Sorbonne University in Paris. We congratulate him on his victory, value his efforts and appreciate his contribution to the Arabic literature and the international reader.”
Sheikh Mohammed added: “Artists, writers and thinkers are ambassadors of our values, bearers of our culture, and contributors to our progress. Nations that write, read, and create in literature and arts are the most capable of learning from their past experiences and anticipating their coming future.”
Great Arab Minds Award In literature & Arts
Professor Waciny Laredj, novelist and Arabic literature professor at the University of Algiers and Sorbonne University, has been awarded the 2023 Great Arab Minds Award in Literature and Arts, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Arabic literature.
His novel writing is marked by an innovative approach that has introduced new forms of linguistic expression, thus expanding the scope of narratives and imaginative storytelling in Arabic literature.
His literary style aligns with a modern school of thought, distinguished by its continuous evolution of expressive methods, and has made a lasting impact on both Algerian and Arabic literature.
Author of over 30 novels and books, Professor Laredj’s works profoundly resonate with the cultural and societal intricacies of Arab communities, connecting them to universal human values and a diverse array of global cultures.
His works have been translated into more than 20 languages, are extensively studied by numerous universities around the world, and have been adapted into various theatrical and film productions.
Beyond his literary powers, Professor Laredj holds prestigious positions as a Chair Professor at both the University of Algiers and Sorbonne University in Paris.