Joaquim Chissano promotes culture as a tool for peace at Folio Festival

Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano attended the Folio International Literary Festival in Óbidos, Portugal, to advocate for the role of culture in fostering peace. Representing the Joaquim Chissano Foundation, he emphasized that culture extends beyond arts and architecture, serving as a vital tool for human development and regional stability in Southern Africa.

During the festival, Chissano presided over the presentation of the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize. The award was granted to author Crimildo Matola for his work, ‘O Último Segredo da Nação’. The book explores the Mozambican struggle for freedom and resistance during the 1950s and 1960s, addressing historical periods when the Black majority lacked a voice.