Meet the Writer: Safae el Khannoussi

Safae el Khannoussi is establishing herself as a powerful new voice in Dutch-language literature. Her debut novel, Oroppa (Arabic for “Europe”), received unanimous critical acclaim: named Best Book of 2024 by de Volkskrant and Het Parool, and winner of both the prestigious 2025 Boon Prize and 2025 Libris Prize. De Volkskrant also named her “Literary Talent of the Year.” 

Born in Tangier and raised in the Netherlands from the age of four, El Khannoussi brings a powerful transgenerational lens to questions of identity, migration, and cultural memory. In Oroppa, she portrays the complex lives of migrants without falling into cliché, exploring the tension between narrative heritage and individual freedom. It’s a rich, layered tale of a Europe that remains invisible to many. 

Her voice — both intimate and bold — shapes a literary language that gives form to Europe’s plural realities. 

Moderator: Sibo Rugwiza Kanobana