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Mia Couto shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
Every time a chance presents itself to mention Mia Couto is a happy time for me. I just found out that Mia Couto (Mozambique writer, please find my several postings on the Categories, left of the screen) has been shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2006 for The Last Flight of the Flamingo. How wonderful! The nominating Libraries were Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango, from Bogota, Colombia and the Biblioteca Municipal Central de Lisboa, Portugal. Thank you for the nominations!
Here's a short description of the Book provided by the IMPAC site:
'In Tizangara, the only facts are supernatural ones…To put it crudely and rudely, here's what happened: a severed penis was found right there on the trunk road just outside Tizangara. A large organ on the loose. Folk turned up from all around.' So the translator of Tizangara begins his tale. But more than folk turn up: car loads of foreign investigators and even a UN official, the Italian Massimo Risi, sweep into the small Mozambican town. And what a minefield they have come to investigate! A labyrinth of witnesses tell stories about each other, the town's past, its folklore, magic and occasional mayhem: among them are Anna Godwilling, the town's whore and therefore the most knowledgeable expert in local manhood, the ancient Temporina who changes into a seductive young girl and bewitches Massimo away from his investigation; the bombastic and obsequious administrator and his wife who insists on being called 'The First Lady'. Even the story of the last flight of the flamingo has its part to play.
In this witty and playful, yet incisive, novel Mia Couto provides a subtle look at emergent nationhood as it wrestles with the consequences of colonialism.
The list of nominees is available here. Some really good contenders. Let's hope that the panel of judges, that include Percival Everett, Jane Koustas, Mary O'Donnel, Andrew O'Hagan, Paolo Ruffilli and Eugene Sullivan take a good look at Mia's book.
Another word to say that the list of previous winners is a good one and could easily turn into a must-read list for the year of 2006. Avoiding best sellers, going for literature, always a goal to pursue.
I must say that despite this nomination, that is great, the fact that only a few books by Mia Couto are published in English is truly regrettable. How can people evaluate what is not available? Translation is urgent.