With the OIF, Francophone Literature Breaks Down Borders

Poetic prose or prosaic poetry? That is the question that first comes to mind when reading Cette vieille chanson qui brûle (This Old Song That Burns). Writing is at the heart of Alexandre Lenot’s second novel, which captivates readers less through its dramatic plot than through its rich, flowing sentences. It explores strained family ties, twinhood, mixed identity, the search for love and recognition, ecology, and activism. The novel is dense, yet flows effortlessly, drawing readers into a spiral of cruel events that unfold in prose of exhilarating power.

This is the work chosen for the 25th edition of the Francophonie’s Five Continents Prize. The choice carries particular significance as the award celebrates a quarter-century of recognizing French-language literature from around the world.

Since its creation in 2001, the prize has sought to bring attention to works that reflect the diversity of imaginative worlds expressed in French. This diversity is not merely geographical; it is also evident in the worlds, sensibilities, and literary forms that the French language allows to coexist. Visibility is another key concern in a publishing landscape where not all works have the same opportunities to reach readers.

Cette vieille chanson qui brûle reflects the kind of Francophone literature the prize champions: a literature defined neither by a particular origin, nor by a literary school, nor by a single territory, but by the language’s ability to embrace different stories and imaginative worlds. The son of a French father and an Egyptian mother, Lenot embodies, through both his background and his writing, the idea of a French language shaped by multiple affiliations. Six reading committees from across the Francophone world took part in the selection process, followed by an international jury of writers and literary professionals from a range of backgrounds. A form of literary legitimacy that emerges from the interplay of different perspectives.

A Prize That Helps Works Travel

The jury praised the novel’s “incantatory language” and its “almost mythological” natural world, where silence, love, grief, and the possibility of forgiveness intertwine. But the book also explores how people can build a sense of self out of what is missing. Its opening pages may throw readers off balance, only to draw them in more deeply.

The award’s impact extends beyond the prize ceremony itself. The OIF supports the winner’s participation in literary gatherings and international events to introduce the work to new audiences. The initiative also seeks to facilitate the exchange of publishing rights and co-publishing arrangements. The aim is not simply to reward a work, but to give it opportunities to cross the borders of the publishing market.

Translation, Another Bridge Between Languages

This circulation of literary works naturally extends to another award supported by the OIF: the Ibn Khaldoun-Léopold Sédar Senghor Translation Prize, established in partnership with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). In 2025, the prize was awarded to translator Stéphanie Dujols for her translation of Je suis ma liberté (I Am My Freedom), by Palestinian writer Nasser Abu Srour. The award broadens the discussion: enabling literature to travel also means allowing a work written in one language to enter the imaginative world of another and challenge perspectives sometimes shaped by preconceived ideas.

Adapted from the original Arabic, Récit d’un mur (The Tale of a Wall), Abu Srour’s book recounts the experience of a Palestinian prisoner who turns the wall of his cell into a confidant and a mirror reflecting his quest for inner freedom. Praised for its precision, clarity, and sensitivity, Dujols’s translation is more than a simple transfer from one language to another. It makes a meeting possible. Translating, in this case, means more than conveying a story: it also means conveying a voice, a sensibility, and a distinctive style of writing, allowing readers in another language to experience their full force.

This is where the two prizes converge. One recognizes the voices that keep the French language alive; the other recognizes those who enable these voices, and others, to cross linguistic borders. Both foster the circulation of literary works, break down barriers, and promote dialogue, but above all, they help push back boundaries.

In Beirut, this circulation of literary works takes concrete form. As part of Beyrouth Livres, both award winners are invited to meet the public. Stéphanie Dujols will discuss her translation of Je suis ma liberté with Rana Idris, while Alexandre Lenot will exchange ideas with Lebanese writer Charif Majdalani. These two events illustrate, each in its own way, the purpose of the prizes: to introduce readers to new works, foster exchanges, and build bridges between languages and imaginative worlds.

By bringing these two award winners to Lebanon, the OIF is defending more than a language. It is bringing together cultures that might otherwise never have had the opportunity to encounter one another.