At just 31-years of age, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr has been named the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Prix Goncourt prize – the oldest and most revered literary award in France.
He is the youngest winner to be awarded the prize since 1976 and the first from Sub-Saharan Africa – something critics have said makes the feat even more spectacular. Records also reveal that he is the first Black man to win the award since René Maran won it in 1921 – exactly one hundred years ago – today.
Mbougar Sarr won the award for his novel-length work titled La plus secrète mémoire des homes, which, when translated to English, mean ‘The Most Secret Memory of Men.’
The story is about a young writer from Senegal who lives in Paris, France.
The announcement of his award was made in France at the Drouant – a fancy restaurant in the same neighbourhood as the famous Opéra Garnier in Paris.
Critics claim that Mbougar Sarr, who told a compelling story about a Senegalese writer living in France, who stumbles by chance upon a 1938 novel written by a fictional African writer by the name of TC Elimane, was favourite for the prize.
Many claim that the story resembles the true story Mbougar Sarr – and even though he has chosen not to reveal the name of the book – or author that inspired him, someone did.
What Critics Say
Speaking about the story, a renowned literary critic was quoted as saying:
“The story, described as a reflection on the links between fiction and reality, is full of literary references – like to celebrated Chilean novelist Roberto Bolaño and prolific Polish author Witold Gombrowicz.
“The novel also echoes the real-life experience of the Malian author Yambo Ouologuem, who in 1968 became the first African winner of another celebrated French literary prize, the Prix Renaudot
“But was later accused of plagiarising several authors. As a result, he returned to Mali and vanished from public life.”
Although the Prix Goncourt is currently valued at only €10, the award has a strong pedigree and guarantees the winning author instant success.
For example, the winner of last year’s prize, Hervé Le Tellier, is on record to have sold more than a million copies of her novel after winning the prize.
Reacting to the award, Mbougar Sarr said, “I feel, quite simply, enormous joy.”
Mbougar Sarr has authored three novels.
