- Author Mia Couto secures distinguished literary accolade in Mexico
Mozambican scribe Mia Couto bagged the renowned FIL Literary Prize at the Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico. The esteemed jury recognized the creator of "The Lioness's Confession" for his exceptional literary prowess in Portuguese, which spotlights and empathizes with the African continent's historical, cultural, and geopolitical linkages.
The generous $150,000 (roughly €135 million) prize will be handed out on November 30 during the Guadalajara Book Fair's inauguration, the grandest literary event in the Spanish-speaking realm. The 69-year-old Couto, whose real name is António Emílio Leite Couto, earned the prestigious Camões Prize in 2013, the most significant literary honor in the Portuguese-speaking world.
Hailing from Beira, Mozambique, and being born to a Portuguese couple, Couto's literary works, such as novels, poetry, and short stories, carry strong influences from Brazilian authors like Jorge Amado and Carlos Drummond de Andrade, along with Latin American "magic realism." Several of Couto's books have been translated into German, like "The Dreamwalking Land" (dipa, Frankfurt am Main 1994) and "Under the Frangipani Tree" (Unionsverlag, Zurich 2007).
Other notable awards in Couto's illustrious career include the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2007 and the Prince of Asturias Awards for Literature in 2016. His literary works, drawing from a diverse range of influences, offer an Other perspective on African narratives, beautifully blending reality with the fantastical.
