Mozambique: Armando Artur wins José Craveirinha Award

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Mozambique: Armando Artur wins José Craveirinha Award

5:22 CAT | 13 May 2021

Photo: Ministério da Cultura e Turismo on Facebook

Mozambican poet Armando Artur has won the José Craveirinha Literary Prize for Literature 2020.

After receiving the check US$25,000 (about 1.4 million meticais) at the award ceremony in Maputo on Wednesday, Armando Artur was invited to say a few words on the podium.

First, the poet fulfilled protocol by greeting the guests in the front row and the confreres in general. Then, speaking slowly, as if writing a poem, he confessed that he was, naturally, very happy to receive the José Craveirinha Literary Prize 2020. “I know that prizes come, in a way, to mark the trajectory or the work of a writer, but I also think that no prize makes a writer great or small. Either you are or you are not.”

Speaking to the socially distanced audience, the poet recalled that around the world there are great writers who never won even a single prize, but nevertheless have a presence in the literary history of mankind. “It is also true that a literary prize never hurts. How much more is it not to hold the author responsible for who I am. It really is a big responsibility. This compels me to continue to work for Mozambican literature, arts and culture. For this very reason, I feel a great burden on me, in this aspect of continuing to work,” not least because “my commitment is to Mozambican literature. My sacred commitment has always been to Mozambican literature”.

Armandoartur.audience.mc_ — *Photo: Ministério da Cultura e Turismo on Facebook*

The announcement of the laureate author was made at the Hotel Glória in Maputo by chairperson of the jury, Professor Teresa Manjate, who read the minutes of the meetings and the unanimous decision of the jury, namely Adelino Timóteo, Ungulani Ba Khosa, José Castiano, Manuel Tomé (representing HCB) and Teresa Manjate herself.

At their second and last meeting, the jury decided to award the José Craveirinha 2020 Literary Prize to Armando Artur.

In its rationale, the jury highlighted the ten books Armando Artur published between 1986 and 2019 and the fact of having a body of work translated into several languages such as English , French, Swedish and Arabic. His work has been published in Brazil, Portugal, Sweden, England, United States, Congo Brazzaville, Algeria, Ivory Coast and other countries.

Finally, the jury also affirmed that, from an aesthetic point of view, Armando Artur had reinvented his being through language, and established his own way of writing poetry.

Also attending the award ceremony was Minister of Culture and Tourism, Eldevina Materula, who congratulated the laureate and praised Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric for underwriting the award.

“I would like to address to you [Armando Artur] my congratulations and encourage you to continue to promote our literary heritage. Now, you have added responsibilities. You become someone who inspires the young. For this reason, many congratulations and wishes for happiness and the continuation of your excellent career, of which the Mozambican government and people are rightly proud,” the minister said.

The minister’s words were in line with those of the Secretary-General of the Association of Mozambican Writers (AEMO), Carlos Paradona, who, minutes before, had said that the José Craveirinha Literary Prize represents the pride of Mozambicans for being the greatest award in the country distinguishing the work of literary creators.

Armandoartur.min_.mc_ — *Photo: Ministério da Cultura e Turismo on Facebook*

More about Armando Artur

Mozambican poet Armando Artur João was born on the 28th of December, 1962, at Alto Molócuè in Zambézia.

He is a founding member of the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), at which he represents Mozambique, and was Secretary General of the Association of Mozambican Writers.

He has acted as vice-president of the Bibliographic Fund of the Portuguese Language, where he replaced the poet José Craveirinha after his death.

He has also held the position of Minister of Culture of Mozambique (2011 – 2015).

In 2019, Armando Artur received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in Philosophy of Art and Literature from the Cypress International Institute University in Malawi.

Source: O País / Ministério da Cultura / Franco Moçambicano