The coveted “Argana” International Poetry Award for its 16th edition was presented to Italian poet Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday in Rabat, at a much-lauded gala held at the National Library.
The award, traditionally honoring poets with a commitment to humanistic values and advocacy for freedom, diversity, and peace, was conferred by the Moroccan House of Poetry in collaboration with the state investment arm Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
The selection committee, led by Italian poet Simone Sibillio, praised Conte for his cultural and linguistic dialogue within his poems, highlighting the illuminating human dimension expressed throughout his work.
Conte expressed his delight and immense honor upon receiving the award, which he termed “an important and distinctive award that (he) will remember for a long time to come,” recalling that his literary works had consistently attempted to build a bridge of communication between East and West.
The poet, born in 1945 in Porto Maurizio, Italy, has contributed significantly to modernizing Italian poetry. His early influences spanned geography, music, astronomy, opera, and translation.
The ceremony featured speeches from Mourad Al Kadiri, Head of the Moroccan House of Poetry, and Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. The event also included readings of Conte’s poetry and was directed by Hassan Najmi, the Secretary General of the Award.