Despite the political unrest in Mozambique, Feira do Livro de Maputo 2024 is scheduled for Maputo from October 24 – 26, 2024.
Mozambique is currently dealing with heightened political tensions as a result of a presidential election European Union observers say has doctored voting results. In the middle of the political mayhem, the legal adviser to Mozambican presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, the legal representative of the political party PODEMOS were assassinated. Mondlane, who blames the administration for the killings called for a national general strike which led to ongoing demonstrations around the country.
It is with this background that Feira do Livro de Maputo (English: Maputo Book Fair), Mozambique’s most important literary event is set to roll out on Thursday. First held in 2014 by the Municipal Council of Maputo, it has become the leading festival driving the literary arts in the Southern African country. It has hosted numerous writers and poets, especially those who write in Portuguese, to book launches and readings, exhibitions, poetry recitals, and more for both children and adults.
This year, João dos Santos Albasini, one of the pioneers of journalism and the fight for social justice in Mozambique will be feted. Founder of the newspaper O Brado Africano, Albasini used the written word to defend the rights of Africans and fight colonial oppression. He will be posthumously conferred the Acacia Rubra Autarchic Distinction, Medal of Excellence.
Also, to be honoured is writer and Communication Sciences professor Nelson Saúte who studied Communication Sciences at the New University of Lisbon and has worked for Tempo, Notícias, Rádio Moçambique and Televisão de Moçambique. Some of his books are O apóstolo da desgraça (1996) and Os Narradores da Sobrevivência (2000).
We saw a festival being hosted in the middle of political unrest earlier in the year with the NBO Litfest in Kenya. Hopefully, this doesn’t negatively affect the happenings in Mozambique. For more information on the fair, please click here on the official Facebook page.
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