David Shohet, a bullfighting enthusiast born in Baghdad

David Shohet was born 92 years ago in Baghdad , the capital of Iraq. Of Jewish origin, he discovered Spain and bullfighting in the 1950s. He was drawn to the country and bullfighting, and has developed extensive business activity and a prominent literary patronage related to bullfighting.

Since 1989, he has sponsored the Doctor Zúmel International Bullfighting Literary Award , which will celebrate its 37th edition in 2025 and which, in his opinion, "has established itself as a benchmark platform for artistic, economic and literary expression in the bullfighting world, and the promotion of works that explore various facets of bullfighting."

Shohet recounts that when he was six or seven, an elderly Roma woman took his hands and predicted that he would serve as a judge in Spain in the future. “I didn't even know where Spain was then,” he notes, “nor could I imagine the close relationship I would have with this country later.”

Twenty years later, after a stay in Israel, his family settled in Milan, and thanks to his passion for horses, he had the opportunity to visit Spain to participate in a horse riding tour of Andalusia. He landed in Málaga from Genoa, and in the Ronda bullring, he witnessed for the first time a bullfighting show starring Cándido López Chaves and his sister Lolita.

“That was the beginning of my love of bullfighting,” says Shohet.

“It wasn't enough for me to be a simple fan, and I decided to give something of myself to the projection of bullfighting.”

A few years later, he set up a business in Spain in the construction sector, met Dr. Mariano Zúmel, who was closely linked to bullfighting ("I renewed my friendship with bullfighting," he notes), and it was then, Shohet says, that in 1989 he decided to create the International Bullfighting Literary Prize, adding the name of his doctor friend after the latter's death in 1997.

"It wasn't enough for me to consider myself a fan of those who go to the bullfights regularly," explains the promoter, "but I wanted to contribute something of myself to the promotion of the festival and also to its defense against the modern winds that seem to be blowing against it."

Rosa Basante, president of the jury since 2008—previously the president since its creation was the bullfighting journalist Rafael Campos of Spain—highlights the good nature, tolerance, and respect for others of David Shohet, “a singular and unique character who fell in love with bullfighting and was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Zúmel, who convinced him to create this award, which recognizes the cultural value of bullfighting.”

Each year, the jury debates and proposes the theme for the submitted works. The first and second prizes are awarded €4,500 and €1,500, respectively. They are published every five years in a volume in collaboration with the University of Navarra.

Andrés Amorós, professor of literature and bullfighting critic, was the winner of the first edition with a text on Bullfighting and Culture . The jury then discussed a wide variety of topics, including the historical evolution of the fighting bull, the figure of Manolete, the meaning and evolution of the suerte de varas (the "luck of the sticks"), youth and bulls, social media as an alternative for promoting bullfighting, the adaptation of bullfighting to the 21st century, an analysis of the economic aspects that influence the development of bullfighting, financing, taxes, and ticket prices as factors that contribute to the festival's survival, and the necessary cooperation between young and old for the understanding and development of bullfighting in the 21st century, among many others.

The proposed theme for this year is Bullfighting, Bulls, Bullfighters, and New Techniques in Bullfighting. The award will be decided this July and presented in September during an annual event held at the sponsor's home.

David Shohet maintains that he is still active as an entrepreneur, and says that he was once offered to buy a cattle ranch and a good friend wisely advised him to continue pursuing the prize alone. He adds that his favorite bullfighter was El Viti and that he now admires Roca Rey. He has not returned to either Baghdad or Ronda and hopes that his patronage work will continue after he leaves.