Tunisian Writer and Poet Samar Miled Wins the 2026 Dina Sahyouni Prize
Awarded for her poetry collection Printemps (Spring), published in 2024 by Le Lys Bleu
The jury announced the distinction on 8 March 2026, coinciding with the International Women’s Rights Day.
A Milestone for Tunisian Literature
With this honor, Samar Miled becomes the third Tunisian to receive the international Dina Sahyouni Prize. She follows:
| Year | Laureate | Winning Work |
|---|---|---|
| 2023‑2024 | Imen Moussa | Il fallait bien une racine ailleurs (2023) & Genre et émancipation des femmes dans la fiction maghrébine contemporaine (2024) |
| 2025 | Arwa Ben Dhia (Franco‑Tunisian poet, translator & engineer) | Les quatre et une saisons |
About the Dina Sahyouni Prize
- Founded: 2021 by the International Society for Women’s Studies & Gender Studies in Poetry (SIÉFÉGP).
- Namesake: Honors poet‑researcher Dina Sahyouni, founder of the society and a key figure in gender‑focused editorial and academic projects.
- Mission: Recognises a migrant, refugee, or exiled female author each year for a work that tackles exile, identity, memory, or female emancipation.
- Timing: The award is announced on 8 March to boost visibility for migrant women writers and underline their contribution to contemporary literature.
The Winning Collection: Printemps
In Printemps, Samar Miled—doctorate in French literature and resident of North Carolina, USA—centres love despite an initial claim of “not knowing how to speak about it.” Through sensitive, image‑rich language, she portrays love as a timeless force that bridges past and present.
Key characteristics of the collection:
- Everyday Poetry: Simple gestures—morning coffee, a hot shower, a fish couscous—create an intimate, familiar atmosphere.
- Rooted in Tunis: Numerous poems echo her deep attachment to her hometown, Tunis, which serves as a symbol of memory, nostalgia, and identity throughout the book.
- Themes Interwoven: Love, exile, and social commitment intertwine, delivering a poetry that is both personal and socially engaged. Hope, memory, and a steadfast bond with Tunisia remain ever‑present.
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Keywords: Samar Miled, Dina Sahyouni Prize 2026, Printemps poetry collection, Tunisian literature, migrant women writers, exile, female emancipation, French literature doctorate, Le Lys Bleu, International Women’s Rights Day.
