The International Prize for African Literatures “Justo Bolekia Boleká” was established in 2017 by the Sial Pigmalión Editorial Group, coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of the group’s foundation. The award aims to recognize African or Afro-descendant authors worldwide who have excelled in various literary genres such as poetry, narrative, essays, Hispanic studies, and translation.
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Each year, a prestigious jury nominates African authors who have distinguished themselves in different literary genres and awards this honor, paying tribute to the figure of the Hispano-African university professor, academic, and writer, Justo Bolekia Boleká. Boleká, a native of Equatorial Guinea and resident in Spain, is one of the most prestigious and internationally recognized African writers.
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The awarded work will be published in the “Casa de África” collection and presented at the Madrid Book Fair, as well as other major literary events in Europe, Africa, and America.
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Past recipients of this award include Afro-Colombian writer and journalist Medardo Arias Satizábal, Equatorial Guinean professor and writer Trifonia Melibea Obono, African writer residing in Spain Ángela Nzambi, Cameroonian professor and writer Narcisse Fomekong, and Equatorial Guinean writer José Fernando Siale Djangany.
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The jury for this edition of the award was chaired by Justo Bolekia Boleká and composed of renowned figures, unanimously granting this recognition to Cameroonian writer D. Inongo vi-Makomé for the book “Demanda” and his body of work.
Inongo-vi-Makomè, a native of Lobè-Kribi in southern Cameroon, describes himself as a storyteller and is the author of several essays, novels, plays, and short story collections. His works address topics such as the black population in Europe, the worldview of an African, and various aspects of African life. The awarded book, “Demanda,” reflects on the survival of humanity on Earth, exploring traditional beliefs and the impact of foreign religions on the perception of life and the environment.
Despite his own questioning and confusion, Inongo-vi-Makomè continues to ponder whether he, as a human, should constantly gaze at the sky or lower his eyes to the earthly reality to find answers to his doubts and anxieties.