Africa-Press – Angola. “Exercise and Languages” is the title of the fifth and last thematic poetic anthology by the Angolan writer João Melo, recently released on the market, covering his poetry produced between 1970 and 2020.
The volume, which has just gone to bookstores in Portugal, represents one of the aspects identified by critics in the author’s poetry as his experimental line, based on a multifaceted search for all the creative possibilities of the text.
Usually referenced for his political and social commitment, as well as for his positioning in the complex question of Angolan identity, João Melo also denotes, as observed by professor of African literature Francisco Soares, an assumed “concern with literary work, precision, concreteness, the pursuit of verbal nudity, which distanced him from a certain tendency towards discourse”.
A permanently nonconformist writer, João Melo has released a total of 23 titles so far.
In Portugal, through the publisher “Caminho”, he published seven books of short stories, five of poetry and a novel by the aforementioned Angolan author. It is also published in Brazil, Cuba, United States and Italy.
In Brazil, another one of the author’s books is currently being printed: “The yellow danger and other tales”.
This year, a volume of his short stories selected and translated by the well-known North American translator Clifford Landers will also be published in the United Kingdom by “Europa Editions”.
His poetry book “Quita la rodilla de mi cuelo” (2021), translated by Colombian poet Lauren Mendinueta, will be published in Spain by Libros Del Aire.
Translations of some of his works are still in progress in the Republic of China, France, Mexico and Tunisia, with publication expected for the year 2024.
João Melo was born in Luanda in 1955 and studied law in Coimbra and Luanda. He graduated in Social Communication and did a master’s degree in Communication and Culture in Rio de Janeiro. He directed several Angolan, state and private media outlets.
He is a founding member of the Union of Angolan Writers (UEA), where he held various positions in the respective governing bodies, such as general secretary, chairman of the Executive Committee and chairman of the Supervisory Board.
His vast work includes “Limites & Redundancies”, “O Caçador de Nuvens”, “Song of Our Time”, “Journalism and Politics”, “Angolan Poems”, Tanto Amor”, “Fabulema”, “Definição”, among others.
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