Kinshasa, February 3rd, 2026 (CPA). – A woman living with a disability, author of the book ‘Les histoires rencontrées à raconter’ (Stories to be told), has been selected among the 11 nominees for the 4th edition of the « Emilie-Flore Faignond 2026 (PEFF 2026) », a literary prize exclusively dedicated to writers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to an announcement by the Bookutani collective published on Tuesday. ‘It is a privilege and an honour to be among the 11 nominees. It is a wonderful adventure and an opportunity to talk about my book, ’Les histoires rencontrées à raconter‘, in a way that reflects how the mockery and the prejudice have shaped my experience,’ has declared Ketsia Mavinga, author of the book. According to her, this nomination goes beyond literary recognition. ‘I hope to inspire others to embrace their own stories, free themselves from judgement and find strength in vulnerability,’ she has added. ‘The book “Les histoires rencontrées à raconter”, reissued in February 2025 by the publishing house “Ma plume aiguisée”, addresses themes related to personal experience, social prejudice and resilience, thus contributing to the debate on self-acceptance and the valorisation of intimate narratives in contemporary Congolese literature,’ she has added.
Ms Mavinga said that this celebration is a solemn moment for lovers of literature, particularly for those involved in Congolese literature. The full list of nominees has been made public by the Bookutani collective through its digital platforms, including the Bookutani group and page, the official page of the Emilie-Flore Faignond Literary Prize and the prize’s Instagram account. ACP/