José Eduardo Agualusa
(Angola, 1960) has published an extensive body of work comprising novels (15 titles), short stories and novellas (7 collections) and numerous journalistic pieces (including for the Brazilian newspaper O Globo). As an important literary voice and a leading author of the Portuguese-speaking world, his at times magical-realist narratives, often rich in historical context, humor and references to Angola, also appeals to many readers outside that world: his work has been translated into at least 25 languages. In A General Theory of Oblivion (2016), a woman with agoraphobia barricades herself in her flat in Luanda. She remains there for thirty years while her country goes through various political stages, from colony to socialist republic and from civil war to peace and capitalism. His latest novel is Mestre dos batuques (2024, Master of Drums). In it, Agualusa rewrites history and describes how drums played an important role in the resistance against the Portuguese colonisers. He also collaborated with Mia Couto on the screenplay for José Miguel Ribeiro's magical realist animated feature film Nayola (2022), which explores this theme.
Watch the trailer of the film Nayola on YouTube
Instagram: @jose_eduardo_agualusa
Past events
New Perspectives: Rewriting Colonial History
A conversation on a new perspective on colonial rule and its impact on the present day.
Where Can You Hide?
Four innocent young women looking for refuge. Forgotten (Agualusa) tells the story of Ludo, who locks herself in her home on the eve of Angola's independence. The Book of Memory (Gappah) gives voice to an emprisoned girl who was abused by her white adoptive father. In Dark, almost Night (Bator) Alicja tries to uncover her deceased sister's secret in the abandoned house on the Polish-German border. And thirteen year old Emma in Fire Stack (Dragomá) is picked up from an orphanage in the middle of the Romanian revolution.
Seven Deadly Sins
Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and sloth: the festival asked seven authors to each choose one and write a fresh text about it. Tonight you’ll hear sinful stories with music by Dick van der Harst.
The text of my life: José Eduardo Agualusa
Writers present their favourite literary texts. Which memory, what feeling does this text call up for them? A continuous interview programme.
The Fake Nation
Three writers talk about the myth of nationalism and how to write in opposition to it. With Margriet de Moor, Perihan Magden and José Eduardo Agualusa. Host: Pieter van den Blink. In English.
