Maria Coruja honored at 5th Caju de Leitores Festival

The 5th edition of the Caju de Leitores Festival will take place from September 2 to 4, 2026, at Aldeia Xandó in Porto Seguro, Bahia. The event, themed ‘Um Manifesto de Bichos’, features a free program focused on indigenous literature, oral traditions, arts, and ancestral knowledge.

Maria Coruja, an 87-year-old Pataxó elder and master of ancestral wisdom, has been named the festival's honoree. A survivor of the ‘Fogo de 51’ violence, she is recognized for her work in preserving Pataxó culture, traditional medicine, and oral history. She will participate in storytelling sessions and opening ceremonies.

The festival's schedule includes discussions on the Patxohã language, decolonizing indigenous children's literature, and the connection between indigenous peoples of Abya Yala through literary works. Activities involve various writers, artists, and indigenous leaders.