The first-ever BRICS Literature Prize was awarded to Egyptian writer and novelist Salwa Bakr. The award ceremony took place in one of the international halls of the 57th Cairo International Book Fair. The prize was established in 2024 to support cultural dialogue and promote traditional values through literature.
In her speech, Salwa Bakr emphasized the civilizational and humanistic role of BRICS, as well as the significance of the cultural heritage of the participating countries (including Russia) in shaping global culture: “Ancient Egypt developed literature at a time when Europe was living in the Dark Ages, while Russian culture and literature have the most profound global influence; our consciousness has been nurtured by the great Russian literary legacy of Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Maxim Gorky, and a whole galaxy of outstanding writers, along with writers from India, China, Brazil, and other countries.”
Salwa Bakr is the author of seven novels, seven short story collections, and a play. Her works have been translated into a number of languages, including European ones. The winner received a cash prize of one million rubles (approximately 600 000 Egyptian pounds).
In addition to the main prize, the jury awarded a special prize “For Innovation in Literature” to Indonesian writer Denny Jah. He was recognized for developing and promoting the genre of the poetic essay, “which combines imagination, fact, and documentary evidence.”
The laureates were determined by voting by an international professional jury. The longlist, announced in September 2025. After a month of voting, 10 finalists remained, who were presented in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The first winner of the BRICS Literary Prize was announced on November 30.
