Young aspiring writer wins the Jaime de Figueiredo Literary Prize 2025

The announcement was made today at the presentation of the 1st Edition of the Jaime de Figueiredo Literary Prize 2025, worth 400,000 escudos, which aims to promote and stimulate literary creation, foster a taste for writing and enhance cultural production, education and artistic expression in the publishing market in general.

07 unpublished works by Cape Verdean authors competed for this award, and an honorable mention was also given to the work "Poemas da Noite II", by Daniel Ramos Mendes, who, in addition to the certificate, was awarded one hundred thousand escudos.

The Councillor for Culture of Praia City Council, Jorge Garcia, reaffirmed the municipality's commitment to continue holding the Jaime de Figueiredo literary competition, in the hope that it will be able to count more and more on the participation of works of "undeniable rigor, quality and aesthetics, capable of highlighting the notoriety of the Cape Verdean literary scene".

The winner, Maria Eugénia Cardoso, who goes by the pseudonym "Jasmin", will take home the prize of 400,000 escudos, as well as being able to have the physical book, on paper, in a print run of 1,000 copies, so that all those who want to read her story can have it in their hands.

According to the author, this prize is the realization of a dream, thanks to her persistence, as she has enjoyed writing since she was a child and aspires to be a writer.

"I've worked hard for this. Winning this award is the realization of a dream and I aspire to one day be a writer of Cape Verdean letters," she said, commenting that her unpublished work tells stories and traces her life, but hope never dies.

"The emotion has already taken hold of me, and I believe I have a long literary journey ahead of me. I'm going to carry on writing," he exteriorized.

Inforpress/End