Sudanese-British author Leila Aboulela has been awarded the 2024 PEN Pinter Prize, a prestigious literary honor celebrating writers who cast an unflinching gaze on society and uphold truth with intellectual integrity. The accolade, inspired by the legacy of British playwright Harold Pinter, recognizes Aboulela’s profound contributions to literature that explore themes of migration, faith, identity, and the nuanced experiences of Muslim women.
Born in Cairo and raised in Khartoum, Sudan, Aboulela has lived in Aberdeen, Scotland, since 1990. Her acclaimed works include six novels and two short story collections, among them The Translator, Minaret, Elsewhere, Home, and her latest novel River Spirit (2023). Across her body of work, she centers Muslim women’s perspectives and delves into the complexities of displacement, cultural duality, and spiritual belonging.
Reacting to the win, Aboulela said, “This comes as a complete and utter surprise. For someone like me, a Muslim Sudanese immigrant who writes from a religious perspective probing the limits of secular tolerance, this recognition feels truly significant. It expands the meaning of freedom of expression and highlights whose stories deserve to be heard.”
The PEN Pinter Prize will be formally presented to Aboulela on 10 October at the British Library in London. At the ceremony, she will also announce the recipient of the 2024 PEN Pinter “Writer of Courage” award, which honors writers at risk for defending freedom of expression.
Judges Nadifa Mohamed, Mona Arshi, and English PEN Chair Ruth Borthwick praised Aboulela’s work for its elegance, emotional depth, and its relevance in today’s world. “In a world seemingly on fire… her writing is a balm, a shelter, and an inspiration,” said Mohamed.
Aboulela joins past laureates such as Arundhati Roy, who in 2023 selected imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah for the Writer of Courage award. Her win reinforces the PEN Pinter Prize’s commitment to elevating voices that challenge dominant narratives and bring marginalized experiences into the literary spotlight.
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