Em Nome da Terra: Literary Festival Honors Vergílio Ferreira
The village of Melo will transform into a literary sanctuary this October as the “Em Nome da Terra” (In the Name of the Earth) Literary Festival returns to honor one of Portugal’s most profound writers, Vergílio Ferreira. Running from October 1st to 5th, the fifth edition of the festival will celebrate the enduring legacy of the Melo-born author through a rich tapestry of books, music, photography, and performance.
A World Seen Through Literature
Organized by the Gouveia City Council, the festival is designed to explore the deep connection between literature and the landscapes that inspire it. This year’s theme focuses on Ferreira’s novel Na Tua Face (In Your Face), inviting visitors to “read the world” through the lens of the author’s final works. Ferreira, who lived from 1916 to 1996, is buried in the village, making Melo a symbolic site for this interdisciplinary tribute.
The event features a star-studded lineup of 50 guests across various fields and geographies, including voices from Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, and Spain. Notable participants include writers Teolinda Gersão and Afonso Cruz, musicians Rodrigo Leão and Mafalda Veiga, and cultural figures such as Bruno Nogueira, Filipe Melo, and Ana Markl.
Highlights and World Premieres
The festival kicks off on October 1st with the photography exhibition Na Tua Face by Rita Cortesão and a poetic installation by Bernardo Mendonça titled Se estas roupas falassem (If these clothes could talk). The opening night will conclude with Aparição, a performance by Luís Osório exploring Ferreira’s life and work.
Music will take center stage on the second night when renowned composer Rodrigo Leão performs Em Nome da Terra. The concert, commissioned specifically for the festival, blends music and literature to evoke the memory and landscape of Ferreira’s novels. Earlier that day, comedian and actor Bruno Nogueira will join Filipe Melo for a session at the Misericórdia Chapel.
Honoring Excellence and Building Legacies
October 4th marks a significant day for Portuguese letters. The Gouveia City Council will award the Vergílio Ferreira Literary Prize (Essay Category) to Italian researcher Marcella Petriglia for her work on “Eugenian writing.” In a move to ensure the writer’s long-term academic study, the municipality will also sign a protocol with the University of Beira Interior to establish the Vergílio Ferreira Chair.
The festival will also pay tribute to living legends. A new street, “Rua Teolinda Gersão,” will be inaugurated in Melo to honor the acclaimed Portuguese writer. Other activities throughout the weekend include literary trails, storytelling sessions, and “itinerant performances” that weave through the traditional houses of the village.
The “Em Nome da Terra” festival concludes on October 5th at the Abel Manta Municipal Museum of Modern Art in Gouveia with a roundtable and exhibition dedicated to the artist Vasco de Castro. Most festival events are free to the public, offering an accessible immersion into the heart of Portuguese culture.
Image: Pexels – Brent Singleton
