LitProm

LitProm is a German registered literary society active in the promotion of literature from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab world. LitProm promotes literary developments in the regions mentioned through their support for translations, authors and literary events. As English and other European languages dominate the translations of world literature on the German book market, LitProm aims to counter Eurocentric views, lack of knowledge about cultural life in Africa, Asia and Latin America, prejudices and stereotyped views.

LitProm was initially founded in 1980 under its former name as the "Society for the Promotion of Literature from Africa, Asia and Latin America".^[1]

Active in the German-speaking countries, LitProm sees itself as a central agent for the circulation of literature beyond standard western cultural notions and as a hub for international literary communication. The association connects authors, readers and literary institutions and thus creates a platform for literary encounters in times of globalized text circulation.^[2][3]

On the occasion of the Frankfurt Book Fair's focus on creative writing from sub-Saharan Africa, the society was founded in 1980 by people who were professionally involved in promoting literature, journalism and publishing, as well as in the international book fair. It aims to contribute to the "dialogue between cultures" through literature. Literary scholar Anita Djafari worked as head of the society from 2009 to 2020,^[4] and Juergen Boos, president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, has also been serving as its president, underlining the strong connection to and within the German book market. Their non-profit work is supported by the German Protestant Church, the German government, development agencies and the Frankfurt Book Fair.^[2][5]

Since 1984, LitProm has been the focal point for the promotion of translations of works of fiction from Africa, Asia and Latin America into German. The programme aims to strengthen literary cultural exchange and to promote the publication of contemporary literature. Each year, about 20 books are selected for a translation subsidy, and from 1984 to 2009, more than 500 translations received funding.This programme is jointly funded by the Federal Foreign Office and the Swiss Pro Helvetia organization, and has allowed authors from countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Malawi, Kenya and Uruguay to be published in German.^[6][2][7]

Since 2008, LitProm has been publishing a quarterly list of the best literary translations from world literature, called Weltempfänger (world receiver). A jury of literary critics, writers and cultural journalists chooses seven titles for each quarterly edition and presents their selection with short explanations online.^[2][8]

The online database Quellen (Sources) contains more than 9,500 titles translated into German by authors from Asia, South America, Africa and the Arab world. All works can be searched in detail using keywords such as author, title, region, original language, translator and others.^[9]

The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) is hosting foreign authors, whose work is at risk, in different cities for at least a year, providing them with an apartment and a scholarship. The writers are expected to continue their work without restrictions and be involved in the cultural life of the respective city. The Cultural Office of the City of Frankfurt has entrusted the project management of this programme to LitProm.^[10][11]

The two-day Literaturtage (Literature Days) festival takes place in Frankfurt every year in January. It invites authors from all over the world to engage in conversation about a specific topic, for example "Migration - Literature without a permanent address". LitProm also regularly organizes readings and is responsible for the programme Weltempfang (world reception) at the Frankfurt Book Fair. As an example, LitProm has cooperated with other cultural organizations, such as the Instituto Cervantes for the promotion of literature from Spanish-speaking countries.^[12] To promote Arabic literature and its reception in Germany, LitProm has also collaborated with the Sheikh Zayed Book Awards.^[13][14]

The LiBeraturpreis (a word play on liberate and literature) has been awarded by LitProm since 2013 and is presented in October at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Only female authors from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab world are distinguished by this award, established in 1987 by the LiBeraturpreis initiative.^[15]

In 2023, the LiBeraturpreis has been awarded to Palestinian author Adania Shibli for her novel Eine Nebensache (Minor Detail), about the rape and murder of a Palestinian girl in 1949 by Israeli soldiers.^[16] Originally, the award ceremony of the LiBeraturpreis at the Frankfurt Book Fair had been announced for 20 October 2023. A few days before the announced date, LitProm canceled the ceremony.^[17]

In 2024, the LiBeraturpreis was suspended.^[18]

• Official website