The Prize, established by the Carlos Morgado Foundation and organized by Catalogus, is a competition for new literary voices for young Mozambicans.
The 2024 edition, in the short story category, without restrictions on setting or theme, written in Portuguese, covered all Mozambican citizens residing in Mozambique, or abroad, without a published book.
Contributing to the construction and projection of new literary voices in Mozambique and, at the same time, celebrating Carlos Morgado's contribution as a Mozambican citizen and defender of noble causes were the objectives defined in the Regulation.
Using a digital platform for submitting short stories, the award received 170 submissions, of which 23 were repeated, 48 were rejected for not complying with the regulations and 97 were first evaluated by a regional jury composed by the poet Helder Faife, the writer Dany Wambire and professor Marieta Namakoma, to select 28 semi-finalists, and finally be evaluated by the national jury composed by the co-founder of the Carlos Morgado Foundation, Marina Morgado (President), the writer and theater professional, Rogério Manjate and the writer, Virgilia Ferrão.
The prize distinguished, in an event on July 4, 2024, unanimously by the jury, the short story by Alfoi Renato Bernardo Firme, born in Quelimane, Zambézia, “O Transportador de Universos e as Lamúrias de Akbar” as the winner, for consideration. It was well achieved “due to literary quality, textual cohesion and coherence and creativity in portraying the story and characters”. A hybrid tale between real facts and fiction, inspired by people the author lived with throughout his life. The narrative, described by Alfoi Renato as introspective, reflects the author’s worldview, camouflaged in other identities. The winner encourages young people to persist in their dreams and invest in writing. “Be bold, absorb every detail around you, listen to your inner voice and value national literary sources. Believe in the authentic that each one can awaken” and was entitled to a prize including a finalist and winner certificate, monetary value, a set of books by Mozambican authors and the right to copies of the collection of the 10 finalists, to be published.
The prize first announced and distinguished 10 finalists, awarding them with a finalist certificate, a set of books by Mozambican authors and the right to copies of the collection of the 10 finalists, to be published.
For more information: Carlos Morgado Literary Prize