Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan writer Artur Pestana “Pepetela” was awarded the title Doctor Honoris Causa by the Council of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The University Council of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, which awarded the title unanimously and with acclamation, highlights its trajectory, in more than 50 years at the service of Angolan literature and intellectuals, for its dedication to the promotion of the Portuguese language around the world, as well as the fact that he is one of the most studied Angolan writers in Brazil and in the world.
Regarding the distinction, the Angolan Academy of Letters (AAL) considers the awarding of the title by the Brazilian university institution to be “extremely fair”, which highlights its literary and human quality, also remembering that its work sheds light on the contemporary history of Angola.
AAL welcomes the award of this distinction, noting that the whole of his work has earned national and international recognition, with the conquest of several literary awards.
The Angolan Academy of Letters hopes that this title will be a door that opens up the increasing appreciation of Angolan Intellectuality.
Pepetela was born in Benguela, in 1941. He graduated in Sociology in Algiers (Algeria), during his exile, and was an MPLA guerrilla, politician and ruler.
He attended primary school in his hometown, then moved to Lubango (Huíla), where he continued his studies. In 1958 he went to Lisbon, joining the Instituto Superior Técnico, where he attended the Engineering course until 1960.
Pepetela became a militant of the MPLA in 1963 and when he abandoned political life, he opted for a teaching career at the Faculty of Architecture of Luanda, where he teaches sociology.
Camões Prize 1997, he has published, among others, the books “As Aventuras de Ngunga” (1973), “Muana Puo” (1978), “Mayombe” (1980), “O Cão e os Caluandas” (1985), “Yaka” (1985), “Lueji” (1989), “Utopia Generation” (1992), “Kianda’s Desire” (1995), “Parable of the Old Cagado” (1997), “The Glorious Family” (1997), ” A Montanha da Água Lilac” (2000) and “Jaime Bunda, Agente Secreto” (2001) and “Your Excellency of the Present Body” (2018).
Its gallery also includes the Correntes de Escrita, in 2020, Rosalia de Castro, from the Galicia PEN Center, in 2014, National Literature (1981), National Culture and Arts (2002), São Paulo Literary Critics Special (2002). 1993), International Association of Galician Writers (2007), Prince Claus from the Netherlands (1993) and Doctor Honoris Causa degree from the University of Algarve, awarded on 28 April 2010.
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