XIV Portuguese Language Writers Meeting Opens in Cape Verde
PRAIA, Cape Verde – The XIV Portuguese Language Writers Meeting kicks off this Thursday in the city of Praia, promising a more inclusive and geographically diverse celebration of Lusophone culture. This year’s summit will feature a significantly bolstered presence from Brazil, Macao, and East Timor, as organizers seek to bridge the physical distances that have historically limited participation from these regions.
Strengthening Global Ties
Organized by the Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities (UCCLA) in partnership with the Praia City Council, the three-day event is themed “The Portuguese Language as an Element of Adaptation in a Changing World.” The gathering brings together a prestigious roster of writers, researchers, publishers, and critics from across the Lusophone world to the island of Santiago.
Paula Leal da Silva, Deputy Secretary-General of UCCLA, told Lusa that the expanded participation is a deliberate move to include those often sidelined by geography. “We are very pleased with the presence of East Timor’s Minister of State Administration,” she said, adding that Brazilian poetry will take center stage this year with specialists and performers bringing the written word to life through theatrical expression.
Macao’s increased involvement is also a highlight, as the territory currently holds the presidency of the UCCLA Executive Commission. According to Leal da Silva, this diverse representation is vital to giving each participating nation the relevance it deserves within the global Lusophone community.
Beyond Books: Engaging the Public
In a shift away from strictly academic or elitist circles, organizers are taking the festival to the streets. “The idea is that people who read can follow it and be part of it, but also those who don’t read,” Leal da Silva explained. To encourage community engagement, the event will feature a gastronomy fair, a book fair, and symbolic public acts, such as a ceremonial tree planting.
Language as an Economic and Scientific Power
The summit will explore the Portuguese language’s role far beyond literature. Discussions will delve into sub-themes like “Portuguese as a Language of Science, Technology, and Innovation.”
“The value of the language is not just culture and wisdom; it is also economic,” Leal da Silva argued. She emphasized that Portuguese is a tool for innovation and commercial relations, noting its growing vitality outside traditional borders, such as its inclusion in the curricula of over five Chinese universities.
Nurturing New Voices
A key focus of the meeting will be the impact of the UCCLA-Lisbon City Council Literary Revelation Prize. The award, which targets unpublished authors in prose and poetry, aims to inject fresh perspectives into the literary world. Leal da Silva noted that these young winners bring “political weight” and “new ideas” that are essential for navigating a rapidly evolving global landscape.
The event, running through Saturday, features a star-studded lineup of participants from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor, as well as representatives from Macao, Galicia, and Croatia.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
