FIRST NATION

The Mozambican writer Mia Couto was awarded the Neustadt international prize for literature , awarded every two years by the University of Oklahoma since 1970 , amounting to $ 50,000 ( 37,000 euros ) .The list of nominees for the prize of the Biennial International Literary Neustadt this year was part of the Argentine writer César Aira , the Vietnamese Duong Thu Huong , the Ukrainian Ilya Kaminsky , Japanese Haruki Murakami , the American Edward P. Jones , the South Korean Chang - rae Lee , the Palestinian Ghassan Zaqtan and Edouard Maunick , Mauritius .Mia Couto was thrilled to be awarded with the international literature Neustadt , claiming that it was a kind of " counter-current " because of the situation in the country and the " threats to his family ." The distinction with what is considered the Nobel Prize American " coincides with a troubled time and concern in Mozambique and , in particular , of my family , which was also the subject of threats ," the writer Lusa , reminding " grim situation [ in the country ] because of the possibility of resumption of war." In cities " there is a situation of great tension caused by threats of abductions , kidnappings and violence," said Mia Couto , who, being a "kind of counter ," admitted the joy of receiving a distinction . Mia Couto wanted to spend in the first place , the prize to his family , which he called "first nation " . " And then to Mozambique , for all the reasons , but now even more because we have to be more together in this quest for peace options for alternative development ," he said . The writer pointed out the importance of this award is given to a writer in

Portuguese to " arouse interest and attention " for languages ​​other than English . The award has honored , among others , the Brazilian João Cabral de Melo Neto , Álvaro Mutis , Octavio Paz and Giuseppe Ungaretti.Além the check , Mia Couto will receive a reproduction in silver of an eagle feather . Mia Couto is the pseudonym of Antonio Leite Emilio Couto , 58 , author who has received awards Camões , Eduardo Lourenço and the Latin Union of Romance Literatures . The author of Sleepwalking Land and Stories Abensonhadas has received the National Prize for Fiction Writers Association Mozambicans Prize Virgil Ferreira of the University of Évora , the Latin Union Prize 2007 of Romance Literatures , Prize Passo Fundo Zaffari and Bourbon literature , of Brazil , and Eduardo Lourenço Prize , among others . The Confession of Leone , published last year is his latest book.