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  • Welcome to ALT Magazine & Press: Hazawi Prize Announces 2023 Shortlist: (Sana'a, Yemen) - The shortlist for the 2023 Hazawi Prize for Yemeni Literature has been revealed, announcing the ten writers who have been selected as finalists for this prestigious award.
  • Now in its second yearly round, the Hazawi Prize recognizes exceptional contributions to fiction in Yemeni literature. Organized by the Hazawi Cultural Foundation, this annual prize aims to promote Yemeni literature and support creative writers.
  • This year's shortlist features both emerging and renowned Yemeni authors. The ten works advancing to the final round of judging are:
  • - Abdullah Faisal shortlisted for his novel, Spirits and Secrets.
  • - Aisha Saleh shortlisted for her novel, Under the Ashes
  • - Farouk Merish shortlisted for his novel, A Dignified Stranger
  • - Ahmed Ashraf shortlisted for his novel, A Painful Belt
  • - Ghassan Khalid shortlisted for his novel, A Sky that Rains Fear
  • - Hosam Adel shortlisted for his novel, The Lord of the Black Dog
  • - Asmaa Abdulrazak shortlisted for her novel, Shrapnels
  • - Abdullah Abdu Muhammad shortlisted for his novel, The Road to Sana'a
  • - Najah Bahkeim shortlisted for her novel, The Final Decision
  • - Samir AbdulFattah shortlisted for her novel, What We Cannot See
  • The winner will be revealed at an award ceremony in Sana'a later where they will receive $1,500 USD. Second and third prizes of $1,000 USD each will also be awarded. All shortlisted works are celebrated for chronicling Yemen's rich culture and wartime experiences. This prestigious prize continues highlighting the nation's thriving literary community.

September 2023

Rural Life in Wisam Al-Absi’s Portrayal of Plowing – Hatem Al-Shamea

The Rural Life in Wisam Al-Absi’s Portrayal of Plowing Wisam Al-Absi’s painting depicting a man plowing a field with an ox is a captivating representation of the timeless and arduous act of manual labor. This evocative artwork transports viewers to a simpler time, invoking a sense of nostalgia and connection to the Earth. In this …

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Exploring the Intimacy of Historical and Urban Life: A Critical Analysis of Hanan Al-Qubaisi’s Award-Winning Oil Painting – by Hatem Al-Shamea

Introduction: Hanan Al-Qubaisi’s oil painting, which won the 2020 ICESCO Prize, offers a poignant portrayal of Yemen’s tragic descent into conflict and the loss of its storied historical identity. By positioning a regal yet grief-stricken woman amid the ruins of Sana’a’s iconic urban landscape, the artist powerfully conveys the profound human toll of Yemen’s political …

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Fractured Bonding: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Paternal Absence in Raya Ahmed’s “A Husband for My Mother” – by Hatem Al-Shamea

Introduction Raya Ahmed’s short story “A Husband for My Mother” offers a poignant exploration of the lingering effects of paternal absence on a child through the lens of the protagonist Shams’ innocent yet misguided quest. Employing realist techniques amidst surrealist undertones, Ahmed illuminates Shams’psychological turmoil resulting from her lack of a father figure. This paper …

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Reimagining Religious Revisionism: Queering Expectations of Power, Gender, and Theology in Wajdi Al-Ahdal’s “Hitler Goes to Paradise” – by Hatem Al-Shamea

Introduction Wajdi Al-Ahdal’s short story “Hitler Goes to Paradise” is a postmodern work that employs surrealism and metafiction to critique power structures and question perceptions of reality. Through absurdist symbolism and intertextuality, Al-Ahdal subverts expectations of paradise while examining political leadership, religion, and humanity’s fleeting control over destiny. This paper will analyze the story’s unconventional …

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Hitler Goes to Paradise – A Short Story by Wajdi Al-Ahdal – translated by Hatem Al-Shamea

A bizarre occurrence arose – I felt no shame over my nakedness! Not even my personal doctor had ever seen me in such a state. Yet she gazed upon me without discomfort. We were in a room that outwardly resembled a phone booth in size but inwardly was spacious like the fortified headquarters of our …

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A Critical Review on Al-Maziji’s Burnings 6×4 – by Hatem Al-Shamea

Introduction Eman Al-Maziji is a contemporary Yemeni writer and author of a collection of flash fiction entitled, “ Burnings 6×4“, she demonstrates nuanced storytelling within a minimalist form. Through symbolic motifs and psychological depth, Al-Maziji conveys profound insights into the human condition within a brief span. This analysis will examine prominent themes across six representative …

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Burnings 6×4 – flash fiction – by Eman Al-Maziji – translated by Hatem Al-Shamea

Brothers The state was struck in two parts, it shut its ancient door declaring danger, its sea was dyed red, the people of Cain appeared in it, incapable of covering the bodies of their brothers for the crowdedness of graves…In its outskirts the wolf tries to escape before being accused of the crime. ———————————- Nostalgia …

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The World Narrowed Around Me – by Karim Al-Iraqi – translated by Hatem Al-Shamea

The World Narrowed Around Me Like a coffin closing in, Hope was all that kept my spirit from dying. My friend, should I take my leave from you, What use then would rubies be after parting? Complaint has never been in my nature, God as my witness, silence I will not keep. Yet time crushed …

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Poetry World Mourns Passing of Prominent Iraqi Poet Karim Al-Iraqi

The Iraqi and global poetry communities are in mourning following the death of renowned Iraqi poet Karim Al-Iraqi. He passed away early this morning at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at the age of 68. Karim Al-Iraqi was considered one of Iraq’s most influential contemporary poets, known for his lyric poems expressing …

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Poetry World Mourns Passing of Prominent Iraqi Poet Karim Al-Iraqi

The Iraqi and global poetry communities are in mourning following the death of renowned Iraqi poet Karim Al-Iraqi. He passed away early this morning at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at the age of 68. Karim Al-Iraqi was considered one of Iraq’s most influential contemporary poets, known for his lyric poems expressing …

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