Alexandre Lenot's novel wins 2026 Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie

Alexandre Lenot's second novel, 'Cette vieille chanson qui brûle,' has been awarded the Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie in 2026. The book, published by Denoël, explores themes of memory, anger, and the necessity of expression through the story of twin brothers, an absent mother, a violent father, and a forest threatened by capitalist exploitation. Lenot, a novelist and screenwriter born in the United States to an Egyptian mother and now living in Paris with regular escapes to Cantal, describes his work as a highly literary object. The international prize, judged exclusively by writers from across the Francophone world, recognizes stylistic rigor. The forest in the novel serves as a political symbol, reflecting contemporary environmental issues like fires and water scarcity, and echoes the 2014 death of environmental activist Rémi Fraisse during the Sivens dam protests. Lenot notes being shaken by the political language that can vilify victims. The announcement was made on April 20, 2026. Concurrently, the 4th edition of the Festival du livre africain de Marrakech (FLAM) is scheduled from April 23 to 26, 2026, under the honorary presidency of Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, with Mahi Binebine as president.