Algerian Author Wins Prestigious Goncourt Amidst Silence in Home Country

The recent victory of Algerian author Kamel Daoud with his novel "Houris," which delves into Algeria's tumultuous 1990s civil war, sheds light on the country's buried past yet remains unacknowledged in Algeria itself.

In a historic moment, Kamel Daoud has become the first Algerian author to receive France's coveted literary award, the Goncourt, with his powerful novel "Houris." This compelling narrative vividly captures the harrowing experiences of those who endured Algeria's intense civil conflict during the 1990s, marked by estimates of 200,000 fatalities amidst escalating violence attributed to both Islamist factions and government forces.

The story follows Fajr, a character physically marked by this violence with a scar from her throat being cut by extremist militants. Now, she narrates the tragic tales of survival and loss to her unborn child. The Goncourt committee praised the work, describing it as a necessary exploration of female suffering during a brutal period and a means to express the often-silenced narratives of collective trauma.

Despite its accolades, the book faces an uphill battle in reaching Algerian readers. Lacking local publication within Algeria's borders, and given Gallimard's exclusion from the Algiers Book Fair, Daoud's triumph has not been reported by the Algerian media, allowing it to fade into obscurity back home. Moreover, Daoud risks legal repercussions for discussing the civil war, as a 2005 law in Algeria penalizes those who are perceived to exploit the country's painful history for personal gain.

Daoud's own experiences during the civil war, as a journalist recording the grim details of conflict, shaped his writing. He navigated a landscape of manipulated truths where government narratives often contradicted ground realities. Reflecting on his past, he remarked on how even his daughter was unaware of the war's true extent due to a lack of education on the matter.

After years of dissent against Algeria’s governmental narratives, Daoud relocated to France in 2020, where he embraced his literary calling freely. He views the country as a refuge for writers, stating that to create, one requires basic essentials—a table, a chair, and a country. Presently, he stands at a crossroads; while some label him a traitor for his outspoken critiques of his homeland, others consider him a celebrated literary figure deserving of recognition.

Moving forward, Daoud hopes his novel will inspire critical thought on Algeria's complex history and the often-overlooked struggles of women amid patriarchy and conflict. His previous works, including a reimagining of "The Stranger," have also received significant attention, indicating his impactful role in contemporary literature. Despite the adversity he faces, Daoud's voice continues to resonate, both in France and potentially in Algeria, where so much remains unsaid.