Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan nationalist and writer, Agostinho André Mendes de Carvalho “Uanhenga Xitu”, was this Thursday, in Luanda, honored as author of the month (in memoriam), by MAYAMBA Editoras.
The tribute act, which was attended by family, writers and friends, featured cultural moments and the intervention of some figures, including David Capelenguela, Jofre Rocha and Roberto de Almeida, who were unanimous in referencing the literary, political and humanities of one of the figures that marked Angolan nationalism.
According to the director of MAYAMBA Editoras, Arlindo Isabel, the act is a tribute that is made every month to an Angolan author, this time, and for the celebration of the 99th birthday, marked in this month of August, it was decided to remember the figure of Uanhenga Xitu.
Arlindo Isabel referred that the honoree had a great influence with his works, attitude and participation in the founding of the Angolan State, as well as affirmation of Angolan literature.
The person in charge also advanced that by the time of the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Mendes de Carvalho in 2024, there will be a tribute to the height of this great figure.
In turn, Roberto de Almeida, a contemporary of the honoree, said that he keeps some memories with him, as they deprived him many times, both at work and in some leisure sessions, having remembered Uanhenga Xitu as an excellent player of Sueca.
“He had a good spirit of companionship and camaraderie, as well as a well-honed sense of humor”, he underlined.
His son, Adriano Mendes de Carvalho, underlined that the honor was deserved, as he was a great nationalist, a man of letters who dedicated himself to Angolan culture.
“It should be said in support of the truth that he gave a lot to this country and left behind a great legacy”, he said.
The author was also awarded a certificate in memory of his incomparable services in Angolan literature.
Biography
Uanhenga Xitu is the name of the Angolan fiction writer Agostinho André Mendes de Carvalho, born in Calomboloca, Icolo e Bengo, on August 29, 1924.
He was a nurse by profession, he was arrested by the Portuguese Police (PIDE) in 1959, for political activities aimed at the independence of Angola and, from 1962 to 1970, he was imprisoned in the Tarrafal and Cape Verde concentration camps.
He is one of the founding members of the Union of Angolan Writers (UEA), of which he was chairman of the steering committee.
A prestigious writer in Angola and abroad, his works have been translated into several languages.
He wrote several works, notably O Meu Discurso (1974), Mestre Tamoda (1974), Bola com Feitiço (1974), Manana (1974), Vozes na Sanzala (1976), Mestre Tamoda e outros Contos (1977), Maka na Sanzala (1979), Survivors of the Colonial Machine Testify (1980), Master Tamoda’s Speech (1984), The Minister (1989), Special Cults (1997).
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