Jokha Alharthi

Oman's first Nobel-nominated Arabic novelist and cultural preservationist

Jokha Mohamed Alharthi (born 1968) is an Omani writer and academic who gained international acclaim as the first Arabic-language author to win the International Booker Prize (2019) for her novel 《Celestial Bodies》. Her work revitalizes Arabic literature by blending traditional storytelling with modern narrative techniques, focusing on themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage in the Gulf region.

Alharthi's writing often explores the intersection of Bedouin traditions and contemporary Omani society. Her debut novel 《The Days of Hunger》 (2000) established her as a voice for marginalized voices in Omani literature. She has held academic positions at Sultan Qaboos University while maintaining a prolific writing career.

Her nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature (2020) highlighted her role in globalizing Arabic literature. Alharthi's work challenges stereotypes about Gulf culture while preserving oral storytelling traditions, making her a pivotal figure in contemporary world literature.