LEILA is the reverse acronym for “Arabic Literature in European Languages,” and is a new website that aims to be an English-language resource for international publishers interested in contemporary Arabic literature. The name “Layla” (“night”) has numerous meanings in Arabic, from the literal translation of “night” as well as referencing. Thousand and One Nights (in Arabic, “Alf layla wa-layla”).
The platform aims to assist with the “discoverability” of new Arabic-language writers and features 60 books and 80 authors (not all are linked to a specific book) chosen by a Euro-Arab jury of specialists from different fields, including academics, authors, and translators. The site offers translations samples and lists of resources, such as where to find information about translation grants, events, or literary magazines covering Arabic literature. Translation samples are available in English, French, and German, with a limited number in Italian, Spanish, and Bulgarian.
“Since the Arab Spring the arrival of Arab creatives in Europe, and in particular Berlin had sparked curiosity in Europe for culture coming from the Arab world,” said Olivia Snaije, a key researcher on the project and editor of the website. “I have been working on the LEILA website for a year doing research, writing, editing, and proofreading, and in my experience, “opaque” is the word many publishers, whether Arab or Western, use to describe the publishing ecosystem in the Arab world. This is especially true regarding rights transactions. There are few literary agents working in the region, and authors will often negotiate their own rights sales.”
Furthermore, few publishers read Arabic or have contacts with authors or publishers in the region. “As a result, translators from Arabic to other languages often have to step in and operate as scouts and agents, providing translation samples that they are rarely paid for,” Snaije says.
The project was founded by Anne Millet and Lucienne d’Alençon, who had worked together in the book department of the French Institute in Cairo, in 2020. It has been supported by the E.U., as well as a wide variety of affiliated organizations, working in or adjacent to Arabic literature (listed on the website). In addition to the website, the LEILA project has hosted professional development programs, one each in Paris, Tunis, and Berlin.
The LEILA project is online at https://leila-arabicliterature.com/. It will be the topic of a panel discussion, tomorrow, October 19, at 1 p.m. on the Frankfurt International Stage (Foyer Hall 5.1 / 6.1).
