Malagasy writer Élie Ramanankavana's debut novel has been selected among twelve works competing for the 2026 Senghor Prize for Francophone First Novels. With 'Fortune', Ramanankavana advances in his literary career by joining the final selection of this prestigious award, established in 2006 to honour Léopold Sédar Senghor and celebrate emerging francophone talent. This year, twelve novels are in contention from 36 submissions received by the jury, with the winner to be announced by end of September.

For Ramanankavana, this selection represents an opportunity to amplify a Malagasy voice beyond borders. "I believe it's important that we have a voice, that we're not just an object of study, a case of underdevelopment or a tourist destination," he explains. The author views Madagascar as a genuine crossroads of humanity, shaped by its geography and island status. "We are an island, we are a crossroads of humanity. Therefore, we have much to say. And what we say concerns the entire world."

Ramanankavana's entry was submitted by his publisher rather than through personal initiative, reflecting standard publishing house practice for literary competitions. He recognizes the Senghor Prize's exacting standards, particularly its attention to language craftsmanship, citing Ali Zamir's award-winning debut 'Anguille sous roche', constructed as a single sentence.

Published by Edern, 'Fortune' is Ramanankavana's first novel following two poetry collections, 'Encre et lumière' and 'Mille naissances pour quelques morts'. The work interweaves family memory, social realities, and Malagasy history, with family at its centre, drawing from the author's personal and his wife's experiences. Individual trajectories reflect broader societal issues and echo popular uprisings throughout Madagascar's past.

A poet-turned-novelist, Ramanankavana champions free expression at the intersection of poetry and narrative. His unflinching gaze examines society confronting poverty, corruption, predation, and dehumanization. Through 'Fortune', he interrogates the narratives individuals and societies construct about themselves, and the wounds and resentments that trap them in repetitive cycles. Lucidity, understanding, and forgiveness emerge as paths to liberation.

With this Senghor Prize selection, 'Fortune' places a Malagasy work on the international francophone literary stage, offering its author a platform to voice perspectives rooted in Madagascar's realities yet open to the world.