Algerian Author Wins Prestigious Goncourt Award Amidst Controversy

Daoud's "Houris", which narrates women's suffering during Algeria's brutal 1990s civil war, faces censorship in its home country while being celebrated in France.

Kamel Daoud has made history as the first Algerian author to win France's esteemed Goncourt prize, with his novel "Houris", which provides a poignant account of Algeria's dark decade during the 1990s civil war. This period, marred by violence, saw the loss of approximately 200,000 lives amid brutal massacres attributed to both Islamist militants and the military.

The narrative centers around the protagonist, Fajr, a survivor of Islamist brutality who communicates her harrowing tale of survival through a speaking tube, reflecting the devastating impact on women during these tumultuous times. The Goncourt committee acknowledged that the book brilliantly articulates the painful memories of a scarred nation, particularly emphasizing the voices of women untold in historical discourse.

However, the irony remains that Daoud's achievement has drawn little attention in Algeria itself. The novel lacks a local publisher, and Gallimard, the French publishing house, has been barred from participating in the Algiers Book Fair. Reports of Daoud's recognition were notably absent from Algerian media outlets a day after the announcement. The author's candid discussions on the civil war, fueled by Algeria's 2005 reconciliation law, could even endanger him, as the law prohibits any attempt to "instrumentalize the wounds of the national tragedy."

Daoud laments the historical amnesia surrounding the civil war, sharing that his daughter was bewildered by her father's recounting of events not included in school curricula. He initially cut graphic scenes from his narrative, believing that they would be dismissed as incredible.

A former journalist for Quotidien d’Oran at the time of the war, Daoud is all too familiar with the grim realities of that era, recounting his experiences of counting the dead, often in vain as official narratives shaped the public's comprehension of the tragedy.

Although Daoud has faced backlash from some in Algeria, seen as a traitor, others celebrate him as a literary figure who boldly addresses uncomfortable truths, including the ongoing oppression of women in Algerian society. He strives through his literature to provoke thought on the cost of freedom and the necessity of confronting Algeria's complex history.

Since relocating to Paris in 2020 due to increasing governmental pressure, Daoud has emphasized that France has provided him the freedom to explore these themes through writing. In the press conference following his award, he expressed gratitude for the environment that allows him to produce his work, stating, “To write you need three things. A table, a chair, and a country. I have all three.”