Mozambican writer Paulina Chiziane has won the 33rd edition of the Camões Prize 2021, the largest and most prestigious literary distinction in the Portuguese language. The information was announced this Wednesday by the Portuguese Minister of Culture, Graça Fonseca.
"Following the meeting of the jury of the 33rd edition of the Camões Prize, which took place on October 20, the Minister of Culture announces that the Camões Prize 2021 has been awarded to Mozambican writer Paulina Chiziane," reads an official note.
Paulina Chiziane is the first African author to receive the Camões Award.
The document mentions that the choice of the Mozambican author was unanimous, being relevant for such a choice her vast production and critical reaction, as well as the academic importance of her works. Furthermore, the relevance she gives to African women, in general, and Mozambican women, in particular, in her works, contributed to her choice.
This is the third time that the prestigious literary distinction falls to a Mozambican author. The poet José Craveirinha received the Award in 1991; and Mia Couto in 2013.
"And I always thought that my Portuguese didn't deserve such a high level"
Paulina Chiziane
After receiving the award, Paulina Chiziane dedicated it to women, because they "have a great soul and a message to give to the world" in such a way that the prize serves to "make them feel what they have inside.
Paulina Chiziane "has been translated in many countries and is today one of the best known voices of African fiction internationally, having received several awards and decorations," concludes the note.
Paulina Chiziane was born in Manjacaze district, in Gaza province, and is 66 years old. With the publication of "Ballads of Love in the Wind" in 1990 she became the first Mozambican woman to publish a novel. Several of her works have been translated into English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Serbian, and Croatian. But it should be noted that the feminist novel "Niketche: A Story of Polygamy" (2002) was her most translated and read work.
Paulina Chiziane was awarded in 2014 by the Portuguese State with the degree of Grand Officer of the Order Infante D. Henrique.