Grand Prix Littéraire du Bénin 2021 winners announced

Raouf Mama was declared the winner of the Grand Prix Littéraire du Bénin 2021 at a ceremony in Cotonou. Also winning on the day were Tanguy Agoi and Publishing House, Ruisseaux d’Afrique.

Grand Prix Littéraire du Bénin was created by the Benin Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts to highlight the diversity of national literary creation; to discover and promote Beninese writers and their works; encourage professionalism among national publishers; identify, stimulate and promote young literary talents and finally promote the positioning of Benin on the African and world literary scene.

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The third edition of the prize was hosted at a ceremony with Minister Jean-Michel Abimbola at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou last Friday. In addition to the Grand Prix Littéraire du Bénin, two special prizes to distinguish and reward the publisher and the critical journalist or literary columnist who have most contributed to the literary life of Benin in the last three years were also handed out.

“The task was not easy, as the candidates were neck and neck. It was difficult to determine the value of the work. But it was still necessary to choose a winner” testified Pascal Okri Tossou, President of the Jury of the Grand Prix Littéraire du Bénin.

Journalist, Tanguy Agoi, of the private television channel, Canal 3 Bénin, won the “Best Journalist and Literary Columnist” prize. In addition to the trophy, he received a check for one million FCFA. The second special prize called “Editor’s Prize” went to the Béatrice Lalinon Gbado run Publishing House Ruisseaux d’Afrique. In addition to the trophy, she received a cheque for three million CFA.

The long-awaited prize, namely the Grand Prix Littéraire du Bénin, was awarded to the writer Raouf Mama. He received a trophy and a check for five million CFA from the guest of honour, Minister Jean-Michel Abimbola.