In an interview in Lisbon, Mia Couto discussed his new children’s book “As Sementes do Céu,” which will be released on Tuesday in Portugal, with an edition planned for Mozambique. This collaboration involves Caminho and the Fundação Fernando Leite Couto, a cultural project established by the author and his family a decade ago in Maputo.
Mia Couto addressed the challenges of promoting books and reading in Mozambique, stating, “People want to read but can’t, as they lack access.”
“Here [in Portugal], it’s likely the opposite. There is access, but not much desire to read. Books in Mozambique sell out completely, and it is a crucial area to explore with publishers from Brazil, Portugal, and others, especially children’s books for distribution,” he explained.
Commenting on the cultural efforts of CPLP, Couto remarked, “From a cultural standpoint, its work is virtually nonexistent. I have more faith in private initiatives, or government cooperation through lateral or multilateral arrangements.”
In 2015, upon establishing the Fundação Fernando Leite Couto in memory of his father, Mia Couto envisioned it as a hub for promoting Mozambican arts and fostering discussions on the country’s artistic landscape.
Regarding the promotion of books and reading, alongside instituting a literary prize and providing scholarships, Mia Couto highlighted a recent initiative that distributed 25,000 books for free, backed by a banking entity.
“When I visit a school in Mozambique and see the children’s eager eyes, their belief that education is their escape from poverty, it’s impossible to remain indifferent,” he stated.
“Sometimes in Europe, children take such opportunities for granted. It’s like fetching water from a river versus turning on a tap. It’s an achievement. These dynamics demand a present involvement,” he emphasized.
Mia Couto, born in Beira, Mozambique, in 1955, has been a journalist, teacher, and currently works as a biologist and writer.
Awarded the Camões Prize in 2013 and the José Craveirinha Prize in 2022, Mia Couto’s works include “Jesusalém,” “The Last Flight of the Flamingo,” “Voices Made Night,” “Abensonhated Stories,” “Sleepwalking Land,” “The Frangipani Balcony,” “The Confession of the Lioness,” and several illustrated children’s books.
Translated into over 30 languages, he has received accolades such as the Vergílio Ferreira Prize (1999), the Latin Union Prize for Romance Literatures (2007), and the Eduardo Lourenço Prize (2011).
In 2024, he published the novel “The Blindness of the River.”
