Ali Al-Maqri, a Yemeni poet and novelist, who has resided in France for years, announced on Saturday evening that he had received an e-mail from the French Minister of Culture, Roslyn Bachelot, informing him of the Republic's decision to grant him the Order of Arts and Letters with a Knight (First Class) degree.
Al-Maqri wrote, "I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Republic of France to grant me the Order of Arts and Letters (first class), according to a letter I received today from the French Minister of Culture, Mrs. Roslyn Bachelot, and the medal (golden medal) will soon be delivered in a special ceremony."
The poet expressed his pride in being awarded the most important medal in arts and literature from the Republic of France. "This is a tribute of appreciation that I am very proud of."
I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Republic of France to grant me the Order of Arts and Letters at the rank of Knight (first class), according to a letter I received today from the French Minister of Culture, Mrs. Roslyn Bachelot;
The Medal (Gold Medal) will soon be handed over in a special ceremony.
This is a salute of appreciation that I am very proud of.# Yemen# yémen pic.twitter.com/IG518gG2Lc
— Ali Al Muqri Ali Al Muqri (@AliAlMuqri) May 7, 2022
He added that the medal was awarded by a number of writers and artists, such as Fairuz, Naguib Mahfouz, Antonio Tabuki, Alf Shafak, Paulo Coelho, Jackie Chan and George Clooney.
Ali Al-Maqri, a Yemeni novelist, born on August 30, 1966, worked as a cultural editor for several publications, and his works have been translated into French, English, Italian, Kurdish, Persian and others.
He has more than 10 books, including: the novel "Black Taste.. Black Smell", Dar Al-Saqi, Beirut, 2008, "The Present Jew", Dar Al-Saqi, Beirut 2009, "The Sanctity" of Dar Al-Saqi, Beirut, 2012, "Incense of Aden", Dar Al-Saqi. Beirut, 2014 “The Leader’s Country” Mediterranean Publications, Milan, 2019.
His two novels, Black Taste, Black Smell, The Present Jew were longlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in the 2009 and 2011 prize cycles, and the novel “Harmada” with its French translation won the Special Mention Award from the Arab World Fiction Prize and the Jean-Luc Lagardere Foundation in Paris 2015. .
Interacting with the news of Al-Maqri being awarded the Knight Order in Arts and Letters, Yemeni writers and intellectuals congratulated him for this great coronation, which is the most important award granted by France to intellectuals and writers, and as one of the few Arab intellectuals who received this medal along with artistic and cultural figures.
I congratulate the creative writer, Mr. Ali Al-Maqri, for granting him the Order of Arts and Letters, with a knight’s degree, from the friendly French government.
— Maeen Abdulmalek (@DrMaeenSaeed) May 7, 2022
And the former Yemeni Minister of Culture, Khaled Al-Ruwaishan, wrote on his Facebook page, "A few hours ago, a Yemeni star was shining in Paris! News that lit up our distressing night... the spoiled night of the country! The French Republic decides to award the First Class Medal of Arts and Letters, with a knight degree, to the novelist and poet friend Ali Al-Maqri Al-Muhajir." to Paris a few years ago.
Al-Ruwaishan added, "It is as if after this achievement it is light years after he published a number of novels that have been translated into French and other languages," noting that Al-Maqri in himself is "the most wonderful novel and the most beautiful poem that you can read or see."
For his part, Yemeni poet and critic Alwan Al-Jilani considered that France's awarding of the Arts and Letters Medal to Al-Maqri with a knight's degree was "a great honor for a great writer."
He added: We should be proud of this, as it deserves a history full of perseverance, perseverance and giving, and that it comes at a time when the book of Yemen was deprived of honor and appreciation.
I thank all the friends and friends who have congratulated me on being awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters, Knight;
I am unable to respond to your words of encouragement, which remained for me the most important award I received in my life, including those that carried sharp criticism, as her interest in what I write motivated me to continue writing.#Yemen#yémen
— Ali Al Muqri Ali Al Muqri (@AliAlMuqri) May 8, 2022
The novelist Ali Al-Maqri receives the French Order of Arts and Letters, with the rank of Knight
The second Yemeni to be awarded after the writer and director Khadija Al-Salami was
awarded the Knight's Order of Arts and Letters
in 2011. #Yemen#Thedom https://t.co/7CCfShb4DR
— Moeen Younis Al Amer (@Moeen_Al_Amer) May 7, 2022
France awards Yemeni novelist Ali AlMuqri @AliAlMuqri the Order of Arts and Letters, and will award the gold medal in a special ceremony.
Al-Maqri is one of the most prolific Yemeni novelists, as the novels of the current Jew were published by him, Harmah, Bakhoor Adani, the country of the leader,.., and his novels were translated into Italian, French, English, Kurdish and others pic.twitter.com/l8fbJFYkWH
- Ziyad al-Jaberi (@zssiad) May 7, 2022