Four female writers have topped the awards at the 12th Awsana (Myth) and Literary Festival in Balkh province from more than 130 works submitted.
Organizers of the festival said it aimed to foster and strengthen the talents of young fiction writers, with anyone under the age of 30 could submit works to the competition.
Winners were announced in an awards ceremony on Tuesday at the Ibn Sina Hall in Balkh’s capital Mazar-e-Sharif, despite the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on writers.
The first prize went to two winners, Roshanan Amiri for her story Akhirin Roz-e-Saal (The Last Day of the Year) and Somaya Ebrahimi for Bakhtawar (The Lucky One).
Mohammad Zia Joya’s Khosor Malik Qarya (Father-in-law of the Village Lord) secured second place, while Morsal Mandegar Niyaazi and Narges Musawi claimed joint third place with their respective stories Bist o Shashomin Shabe Maahe Dowome-Bahar (The Twenty-Eighth Night of the Second Month of Spring) and Chal-e Guna (Dimples).
Event manager Shafiq Berya said 130 stories were submitted from writers across Afghanistan, including 40 from Kabul and 27 from Balkh, between April and June. The works were judged by Hamira Qadari, Shafiq Namdar, and Ali Musavi.
Festival participant Nazanin* (a pseudonym) said such programs were critical to strengthen writing skills and boost young writers’ confidence.
“These programs are extremely valuable for developing our writing and intellectual capacity, and I hope they continue,” she said.
“In a context where women face many restrictions and are often deprived of education and work, these events can serve as a small but important source of motivation for us,”
Media activist Sayid Mohammad Yazdanparast, based in Balkh, said these initiatives are important to nurture young talent and urged women not to give up on their studies and creative pursuits.
“At no point in history should we give up on our efforts. With study and knowledge, we must empower ourselves to confront challenges. Parents also play a key role by fostering an educational environment at home,” he said.
Khana-e Dastan-e Balkh (The Balkh House of Fiction) was established in 2008 with the collaboration of several intellectuals and fiction writers. Each year, it organizes the Osana Si Sana festival to recognize and promote exceptional talents in the field of fiction writing.
