This female Omani writer has become the first to receive the Man Booker International Prize

Jokha al-Harthi became the first female Omani writer to win the prestigious Man Booker International Prize in London two days ago. Along with Marilyn Booth, an American academic and author who is the book’s translator, the pair has received a prize of £50,000.

Celestial Bodies is an Arabic book that unravels the struggles that three generations of an Omani family endure due to social change. This is a story about Jokha al-Harthi’s hometown and its post-colonial life where she chooses to address the history of slavery.

“I think literature is the best platform to discuss sensitive issues. And slavery is not exclusive to Oman – it’s part of human history”, she said during an interview at the awards ceremony.

Elnathan John, a novelist and satirist commented about the novel and said, “we were very impressed with the depth of writing, it’s intellectual reach, but also it’s ability to flex moral muscle”.

Additionally, the director of Oman’s culture ministry also praised Jokha al-Harthi’s, acknowledging that her victory meant opening new doors for Omani literature worldwide.

The Man Booker International Prize is a literary achievement that is rewarded to a work every year that has been translated to English.