"This year, in which we celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence" of Portuguese-speaking African countries – with the exception of Guinea-Bissau, which is already celebrating its 52nd –, the festival will pay tribute to writers Agostinho Neto, the first president of Angola, Alda Espírito Santo, a pioneer of São Toméan literature, Onésimo Silveira, a Cape Verdean writer and translator, and Noémia de Sousa, a Mozambican poet, announced the publisher Rosa de Porcelana, which is organizing the event in partnership with the Municipal Council of the island of Sal and scientific curator Inocência Mata.
In its seventh edition, the festival will take place from Thursday to Sunday with the aim of consolidating the island as a literary reference in Cape Verde and abroad, in addition to encouraging debate and reflection.
The event also seeks to open up literature to new voices and promote dialogue between authors, translators and researchers from different countries.
This year's event will feature 10 Cape Verdean writers and teachers, as well as 11 foreign writers from Germany, Angola, Brazil, Italy, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as students from secondary schools on the island of Sal.
The opening session on Thursday will include reading sessions with visits from writers.
The festival was first held in 2017, with tributes to Cape Verdean poet Corsino Fortes and Portuguese writer José Saramago.
