In recent years, we have seen indigenous literature become increasingly sought after. In part, due to the performance of indigenous writers in defending authorship and the right to speak for themselves; on the other hand, because the themes addressed in works by indigenous authorship denote agroecological knowledge, good living, health, cultures, and the inevitable indigenous way of life in the preservation of biomes, which benefit not only indigenous spirituality, but above all, the ecological balance in the land.
With this situation in mind, Editora Moderna will launch, by the end of this year, five new books of indigenous literature, written by indigenous subjects.
Anthology edited by Kaká Werá
Kaká Werá
Image: Disclosure
Among the works scheduled for release in the first half of 2023 are “Apytama – Forest of Stories”, organized by author Kaká Werá, which presents a territory of images and concepts that translate the identity and awareness of belonging to a plural culture, whose main values point to care for nature, differences, power and recognition of memory as a carrier of knowledge. The work, aimed at a young audience, offers in poems, essays, chronicles and short stories a reflection on the relationship between nature and human beings. In this Apytama, I participate.
In the second half of the year, also in the children’s literature segment, Editora Moderna plans to launch “A Mãe Terra e o Bem Viver”, by Ademario Ribeiro Payayá; “Land, river and war – the fate of a curumim”, by Cristino Wapichana and “Poems for curumins and sister-in-laws”, by Tiago Hakiy.
“Indigenous literature being present, especially in school environments and learning spaces, is of vital importance, as it is through literature that one can get to know the soul of a culture, of a people. And, through the soul, all of a vision of the world that allows us, consequently, to eliminate ignorance in relation to the other. Hence, respect for diversity is born and opens up the possibility of new, diverse learning”, says Kaká Werá, author of “Menino-Trovão”, Moderna catalog book that tells the story of a Tupi boy who would have been the first inhabitant of Earth. The work received the “Selo Cátedra 10 Unesco” award in the 2022 edition. The award will be presented on April 18 at PUC in Rio.
“In indigenous culture, orality has a very strong force and we have conquered new spaces, seeking to dominate literature, the written word, to share our knowledge, our culture with more and more readers”, adds Daniel Munduruku, author from Pará and indigenous of the Munduruku ethnic group.
A doctor in education from the University of São Paulo (USP), with a postdoctoral degree in Linguistics from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Daniel Munduruku is today one of the most important voices of indigenous literature in Brazil and has won two Jabuti awards, in addition to many other awards in Brazil and abroad.
He has more than 50 books published, two of them by Editora Moderna (“Anthology of Indigenous Teaching Tales – Time for Stories” and “Indigenous Chronicles to Laugh and Reflect at School”), in addition to “Estações”, with illustrations by Marilda Castanha, also scheduled to come out this year.
To purchase released and upcoming titles, click here.
#Orality #great #strength #growing #indigenous #protagonism #literature