Writer Lopito Feijóo is, as of Saturday, the new Secretary-General of the Angolan Writers’ Union (UEA). The poet won the election by securing 44 out of 66 possible votes. The results were announced in the late afternoon by the Electoral Commission during a well-attended ceremony held at the UEA headquarters in Luanda.
Following the announcement, defeated candidates Kanguimbu Ananaz and Marta Santos protested the outcome, directly accusing the Electoral Commission of failing to comply with certain statutes and regulations that govern the organization and functioning of the UEA.
Both Kanguimbu Ananaz and Marta Santos, who ran against Lopito Feijóo, received 11 votes each. With this result, Lopito Feijóo becomes the eighth Secretary-General of the UEA, the first cultural institution created after Angola’s independence.
In remarks to the press, Lopito Feijóo expressed happiness with the victory and affirmed his commitment to fulfilling the campaign promises, particularly addressing the social concerns of UEA staff and creating a new model for the institution’s operations.
“The result speaks for itself. It was a solid victory, and I thank those who believed in me and in the project. Now, the goal is to move forward and work with dedication,” he assured.
On the other hand, writer Kanguimbu Ananaz expressed dissatisfaction with the result. According to her, the process unfolded in an incomprehensible manner, and she plans to challenge the outcome. Writer Marta Santos also intends to contest the results, citing violations of UEA’s statutes and rules.
“If the Electoral Commission itself does not honor the statutes, I cannot accept the results. I don’t consider myself a loser, because the only legitimate candidate list I recognize is that of Kanguimbu Ananaz,” she said.
Lopito Feijóo was born in Malanje, Angola, on September 29, 1963. He studied law at Agostinho Neto University in Luanda and served as a member of the National Assembly.
A poet, literary critic, professor of Angolan literature, and founding member of the Brigada Jovem de Literatura de Luanda (BJLL) and the Ohandanji Literary Collective, Feijóo is also a longstanding member of the UEA, where he previously served as Secretary for International Relations.
His works have been published in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, the United States, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Nigeria. His published books include:
- Doutrina dos Pitós (2022)
- Doutrina com Fabulações (2019)
- Brilho do Bronze (2005)
- Na Idade de Cristo (poetry on CD, 1997)
- África da Palavra (1995)
- Meditando (essay and criticism, 1994)
- Geração da Revolução (1993)
- Meditando, textos sobre literatura (1992)
- Cartas de Amor (1990)
- No Caminho Doloroso das Coisas – Anthology of Young Angolan Poets (UEA, 1988)
- Doutrina (UEA, 1987)
- Me Ditando (1987)
- Rosa-cor-de-Rosa (1987)
Source: Jornal de Angola
