Alsanousi granted Bahrain Cultural Personality award

Kuwaiti novelist’s accomplishments praised

Young Kuwaiti men putting the final touches on the ship. (KUNA – Ghazy Gafaf) MANAMA, April 2, (KUNA): Bahrain’s Authority for Culture and Antiquities on Friday granted Kuwaiti novelist Saud Alsanousi the Mohammad Al-Banki Award for Cultural Personality of the Year in its third edition.

Presenting the award, chief of the authority Sheikha Mai Al-Khalifa praised Alsanousi’s accomplishments, which reflected great potential of Arab youth.

The award-giving ceremony was held on the sideline of the 17th Bahrain International Book Fair.

This is the third year in a row the award is being granted, Sheikha Mai told KUNA, voicing content over Alsanousi’s win.

On his part, Alsanousi told KUNA that the late Mohammad Al-Banki had a major role in fostering the youth through cultural activities.

In memory of noted intellectual and critic Mohammad Al-Banki, the award honors leading intellectual, researcher,

Photo from the event

author, or artist from the Arab world who made significant contributions to the cultural arena.

Alsanousi termed the honoring he received in Bahrain “matchless.” Born 1981, Alsanousi’s debut novel “The Prisoner of Mirrors” (2010) won the Leila Othman Prize. In 2011, his short story “The Bonsai and the Old Man” won a competition organized by Al-Arabi magazine and BBC Arabic. His novel “The Bamboo Stalk,” about immigrant workers, won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (2013).