A spirited celebration of cultural cooperation, held on 11 August at the National Centre for Translation (NCT) in the Cairo Opera House, promoted Egyptian translators and showcased the richness of Mexican literary works and strong cultural ties between the two nations.

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim Owaida emerged as the top prize winner, receiving $1,000 for his exceptional translation. The competition attracted 150 participants and resulted in 18 complete translations.

The event, launched in January at the Cairo International Book Fair, underscores the growing interest among Egyptian scholars and enthusiasts in Mexican literature.

Owaida's winning translation is of El Dragón Blanco y Otros Personajes Olvidados (The White Dragon and Other Forgotten Figures), a collection of short stories by the acclaimed Mexican author Adolfo Córdova.

The book reimagines secondary characters from classic children's literature as protagonists in their own stories and won the 2015 Juan de la Cabada Fine Arts Award for Children's Stories. This prestigious award, named after Mexican writer Juan de la Cabada, honours exceptional contributions to children's literature and celebrates storytelling that engages and inspires young readers.

Córdova's work, which retains the essence of the original tales while adding fresh narratives, was praised for its powerful and insightful storytelling. 

Mexico’s Ambassador to Egypt Leonora Rueda highlighted the significance of translation as an art form that deepens cultural understanding.

“Translation is not merely the act of converting words; it is an art form that conveys concepts and emotions, enriching mutual understanding between cultures. This week's prize for translating Mexican literature into Arabic celebrates this noble task and fosters closer ties between our societies,” she said.

The embassy also expressed gratitude to Córdova for allowing his work to be translated into Arabic, hoping his imaginative narratives would resonate with Egyptian readers and further solidify the bond between the two countries.

Furthermore, the ceremony acknowledged Cementos Mexicanos' (CEMEX) support and commitment to the initiative. 

Following the success of the first two editions, plans are underway to expand the competition to other League of Arab States member countries, in collaboration with the NCT. Organizers are working towards this goal in the coming months.

Ambassador Rueda and the NCT Director Dr. Karma Sami chaired the event.

The jury, including distinguished Egyptian Professors Dr. Nadia Jamal Al-Din of Ain Shams University, Dr. Salwa Mahmoud of Helwan University, and Dr. Khaled Salem of the Academy of Arts, awarded honorary mentions to Mohamed Amjad Labib Al-Rashidi, Mustafa Mohamed Rashidi Ahmed, and Minna Allah Mohamed Ibrahim Raslan for their notable contributions.

All winners received a selection of books provided by the Mexican embassy and the NCT.