Moroccan Author Zineb Mekouar Wins French Academy’s Henri de Régnier Prize for “Souviens-toi des abeilles”

Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Moroccan novelist Zineb Mekouar has been awarded the prestigious Henri de Régnier Prize by the French Academy (Académie Française) for her second novel, “Souviens-toi des abeilles” (“Remember the Bees”), published by Gallimard.

The award was announced on Thursday as part of the Academy’s 2025 literary prize list, which honors excellence across literature, poetry, philosophy, cinema, music, and the humanities. The Henri de Régnier Prize specifically supports literary creation, and is among the 71 prizes awarded this year.

“I’m very moved to receive this beautiful prize, given by the French Academy, an institution I admire and respect immensely,” Mekouar said in a statement to Morocco’s state news agency MAP. She added that the recognition highlights both her literary voice and the powerful themes woven through her novel — including maternal love and environmental stewardship.

Set in Inzerki, Morocco — home to the world’s oldest and largest traditional apiary — the novel is a poetic tribute to Moroccan heritage and addresses the global urgency of climate change. Mekouar dedicated her award to the people of Inzerki, praising their warmth and hospitality during her research.

“Souviens-toi des abeilles” has been widely acclaimed in France for its lyrical prose and sensitive environmental themes. It was named one of the Goncourt Academy’s summer 2024 favorites and made the first selection for the 2024 Jean Giono Prize. Earlier this year, it also won the 2025 Folire Prize, which explores the relationship between mental health and community.

Born in Casablanca in 1991, Zineb Mekouar has lived in Paris since 2009. Her debut novel, “La poule et son cumin” (“The Hen and Its Cumin”), was published in 2022 by JC Lattès and became a Goncourt Prize finalist for First Novels, also earning a spot on the Goncourt Academy’s 2022 summer reading list.

Mekouar’s rising literary stature continues to bridge Moroccan identity, French literary circles, and universal themes, earning her a distinguished place in contemporary Francophone literature.