Mia Couto

Mia Couto (born António Emílio Leite Couto, July 5, 1955) is a Mozambican writer and biologist. He is considered one of the most important writers in Portuguese-speaking Africa and is known for his unique and innovative use of the Portuguese language, blending it with Mozambican folklore, oral traditions, and indigenous languages.

Couto's writing often explores themes of identity, colonialism, the legacy of war, and the complex relationship between tradition and modernity in Mozambique. His works are characterized by magical realism, poetic prose, and a profound understanding of the human condition.

His notable works include the novels Terra Sonâmbula (Sleepwalking Land), often considered his masterpiece, A Varanda do Frangipani (Under the Frangipani), O Último Voo do Flamingo (The Last Flight of the Flamingo), and Jesusalém. He has also published collections of short stories and poetry.

Couto has received numerous literary awards, including the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2014, and the Camões Prize in 2013, the most prestigious award for Lusophone literature. He currently lives and works in Mozambique.