On the 23rd of this month, as part of the 6th anniversary of the Gianni Gaspar Martins Foundation, at the Angolan Writers’ Union, the 3rd edition of the GGMF Literary Prize was held, in the prose category, with the young Muzeri Kizenza winning with the work “Ausentes” (Absent). The GGMF Literary Prize awards one million kwanzas to the winner and a considerable number of copies for their personal use.

In the same context, since the 3rd edition of the Prize was included in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Angola’s Independence, a Revelation Prize was awarded to the young Kenny Raphael with the work “O nome do Rio” (The Name of the River).

In their acceptance speeches, both expressed their joy at the Foundation’s achievement, as our country lacks literary prizes, an aspect that serves as an incentive for literary creators. “Angola is too big for us to have such a meager number of literary awards. We must value the effort applied by the Foundation’s patron, Eng. Gianni Gaspar Martins, and his team, because only in this way do we value Angolan culture,” said the president of the competition’s jury, the writer and literary critic Helder Simbad.

The Foundation’s patron was clear in stating that the Foundation will continue to invest in youth, in the creation of new talents, and that as far as the GGMF is concerned, Angolan literature will not die. “The future of a country depends on the strength of its youth. We will support them so that we do not have a compromised future.”