SPOTTED: Simone Atangana Bekono wins Hebban Debut Prize 2021
- Creative Writing
- ArtEZ Prizewinner
Simone Atangana Bekono, Creative Writing alumnus, has won the Hebban Debut Prize 2021 for her novel ‘Confrontaties’. The jury said: “Confrontaties is a topical and challenging book. Atangana Bekono is a genuinely new voice in Dutch modern literature, a voice that deeply touches the reader and stays with you.”
The Hebban Debut Prize is an incentive prize for debutants and is focused on Dutch-language literary fiction, literary non-fiction, thriller, feelgood and Young Adult fiction. It is the only jury award in The Netherlands and Flanders with significant input from readers. The shortlist is compiled by a readers’ jury consisting of more than 100 readers. A professional jury then chooses the best debut.
The jury led by chair Deirdre Carasso praised Simone Atangana Bekono for her play with language and the way she displays her mastery of story:
‘Confrontaties’ prompts the reader to think and feel about the way society shapes and influences people. An important function of literature and a task for every writer – a task that Atangana Bekono takes to a new level with the same self-confidence as her heroine.
Atangana Bekono's debut novel 'Confrontaties' was published in September 2020 by Lebowksi Publishers and was also nominated for the Libris Literature Award 2021, The Best Book for Young People 2021 and the Bronzen Uil 2021. Earlier this year, Atangana Bekono was also named among De Volkskrant’s top three literary talents for 2021.