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Mia Couto

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Biography

Mia Couto, born and raised in Beira, Mozambique, to Portuguese immigrant parents, began his writing journey at a young age, with some of his poetry published in a local newspaper when he was just 14. In 1971, he moved to the capital, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), to study medicine at the University of Lourenço Marques. During this period, Mozambique was in the midst of an anti-colonial struggle led by FRELIMO against Portuguese colonial rule. In 1974, after the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon, which led to the overthrow of the Estado Novo regime, Mozambique was on the path to independence. FRELIMO asked Couto to pause his medical studies and work as a journalist for Tribuna until September 1975, after which he became the director of the newly established Mozambique Information Agency (AIM). He later managed Tempo magazine until 1981. In 1983, he published his first book of poems, “Raiz de Orvalho,” which included texts critical of the dominance of Marxist militant propaganda. Couto continued working for the newspaper Notícias until 1985 when he resigned to complete his biology studies.

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

2014 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, 2013 Camões Prize, 2007 Latin Union Prize.

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