ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship announces ten winners for 2023
The winners of First Chapter, the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship 2023, during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
The winners of First Chapter, the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship 2023, were announced at a special ceremony at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (EAFL). Ten winners were selected from more than 100 applicants writing in Arabic and English by their prospective mentors and internationally published authors Ali Sparkes, Elnathan John, Greg Mosse, Haji Jabir, Jalal Barjas, Tiffany Murray, Shahad Al Rawi, Yrsa Siggurdottir and Will Eaves.
This is the second year that the Fellowship has been open, providing the only global standard mentorship programme in the region for aspiring writers. The winners are: Aine O’Connor chosen by Ali Sparkes; Alaa Masrati chosen by Shahad Al Rawi; Aneesha Rai chosen by Tiffany Murray; Avril Erskine and Stacey Siebritz chosen by Greg Mosse; Fatima Ali chosen by Jalal Bargas; Husam Hilali of St. George chosen by Haji Jabir; Magdalena Karolak chosen by Elnathan John; Neha Vinod Menon chosen by Yrsa Siggurdottir; Saba Brelvi chosen by Will Eaves and Sangeetha Sagar chosen by Alwyn Hamilton.
“This Fellowship has truly been an amazing experience, not only for the Fellows, but also for those of us involved in organising it,” said Ahlam Bolooki, EAFL Director. “It has been so wonderful to see the change in the writers who started their journey with us this time year, not only in terms of the growth in their writing prowess, but also in the confidence and knowledge that they now have about the industry and the publishing process.” From the first cohort, Sara Hamdan and Moxie Anderson have already been signed by literary agents Curtis Brown and LBA Associates respectively, and more signings from the remainder of the group are expected to be announced soon.
The mentorship programme was launched last year by ELF (Emirates Literature Foundation) in partnership with Seddiqi Holding to identify and nurture emerging writing talent from the UAE, enabling the successful participants to hone their skills through one-to-one sessions with the authors.“Witnessing the evolution and success of the Year 1 Fellows this past year has been a profound experience. Several cohorts have signed with leading literary agents, which truly encapsulates their hard work and dedication. In line with our nation’s goal to promote the growth of the cultural and creative industries, Seddiqi Holding is proud to partner with Emirates Literature Foundation to create a one-of-a-kind programme and platform that continues to break boundaries and propel aspiring writers while preserving and nurturing regional talent.
“It is especially thrilling to see an increase in the number of applicants writing in Arabic in Year 2 — a true testament to the region’s passion and determination. We are certain the cohorts, past, present and future, are on their way to becoming trailblazers in the industry, and we are ecstatic to be on this journey with them,” said Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Seddiqi Holding. In addition to six hours of one-to-one guidance from their mentors, the fellows take part in a regular series of workshops led by resident mentor Annabel Kantaria, along with meetups and talks from authors and experts spanning the whole of the industry, encompassing all stages of writing, publishing and promoting a book.
The programme also provides introductions to international agents, editors and publishers and access to short writing classes from international partner writing institutions. Last year’s group undertook a field trip to Gotham Writers Centre in New York, to take classes and meet New York based agents. Seddiqi Holding has agreed to partner with ELF for five years, with the aim that the Fellowship will create a significant pool of authors based in the UAE, with audiences all over the world. EAFL is the Arab World’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, featuring international and regional writers, poets, thinkers and speakers from around the world. Over the past 14 years, more than 1,800 authors from over one hundred countries have spoken in it.
In 2022, it reached more than 105,000 people, in person and via live streaming. ELF is a not-for-profit organisation which supports and nurtures a love of literature in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through a programme of varied cultural initiatives. Established in 2013 by Royal Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation aims to foster a love for literature, with a focus on the Arabic language.
In line with the National Reading Policy of the UAE, it has implemented several long-term projects including the School Librarian of the Year Award, Kateb Maktub, and From the Inside Out, as well as conducting year-round student education programmes, book clubs and mentorship programmes. The Foundation’s previous initiatives included the 2020 International Literary Festivals Conference, the 2017 Dubai International Publishing Conference and the 2016 Dubai Translation Conference. ELF is also the governing body of EAFL.
Seddiqi Holding was established in 2007 to consolidate the existing businesses belonging to the Seddiqi family into a holding group. The group operates a diverse collection of companies, including Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the longest standing and largest business unit within the group; Swiss Watch Services and Seddiqi & Sons Investment, which includes Seddiqi Properties and Mizzen. Seddiqi Holding is managed by four generations of the Seddiqi family supported by a multinational workforce of over 900 employees. Its foundations were laid by the late Ahmed Qassim Seddiqi.
