
(From L to R) Dr. Karma Sami, Mexican Ambassador to Cairo, Leonora Rueda and Dr. Ahmed Aweida pose for an image at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair.
In her remarks during the symposium, Ambassador Rueda said this translation resulted from the Mexican Literature Translation Competition launched in 2021 to translate Mexican literature into Arabic.
She clarified that this joint initiative, launched by the Mexican embassy and the National Centre for Translation, aims to introduce Mexican literature to Egypt and the Middle East and support creative Egyptians in their professional careers.
“We are working to enhance the Mexican cultural heritage in Egypt and the Arab world by presenting Adolfo Córdova’s The White Dragon and Other Forgotten Figures,” Rueda explained.
Dr. Ahmed Aweida, who won the second edition of the Mexican Literature Translation Competition, translated this storybook into Arabic.
She added that over 300 Egyptian translators participated in this competition's first and second editions.
Rueda highlighted the great efforts exerted to continue this initiative and prepare for the competition's third edition.
The National Centre for Translation and the Mexican embassy are selecting the work to be translated. They will announce the selection before the end of February and details about the third edition in March.
“We hope this competition will become a legacy of the embassy and the National Centre for Translation for future generations,” she expressed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sami said the two books translated under the initiative do not attract a specific reader. Instead, they address our humanity and feed our yearning for storytelling.
“We are waiting for more narrative magic from Mexican writers to be translated by young Egyptian and Arab translators through the Mexican Literature Competition, a wonderful and different look at Mexican culture and creativity,” she stated.

A talk addressed the challenges of translating Spanish works, especially children’s literature, into Arabic as part of the book presentation ceremony.
It also delved into the importance of encouraging Spanish-language students to participate in the translation sector.
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