Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel
Encyclopedia
Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel is an Annobonese
writer from Equatorial Guinea
.
(now Equatorial Guinea), the son of Manuel Ávila Fernández and Luisa Laurel Bizantino, both teachers and Spanish
settlers from Annobón
island. He studied primary school in Annobón
(Annobonese language
) and then completed his secondary studies in Malabo
. Ávila Laurel graduated as a medical nurse.
His work is characterized by and incisive criticism of the social and political realities, and the economic inequalities, in his country in particular and in Africa in general. He has participated in literary activities of the Centro Cultural Hispano-Guineano at Malabo
. He has written novel, poetry and essay. He works as an editor in chief for El Patio, published by the Centro Cultural Hispano-Guineano.
including descriptions of the geographical and psychological situation of Annobón
and reflections on the national flag.
, New York. He has been invited speaker at conferences in Korea, Switzerland, and several times in Spain and in the United States. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including novels, plays, poetry, essays, and film scripts, and has several unpublished manuscripts, some of them forthcoming. Among his published titles are:
Annobón Province
Annobón , also known as Pagalu or Pigalu, is an island of Equatorial Guinea. It is located in the South Atlantic Ocean at , about 220 miles west of Gabon and south west of São Tomé Island...
writer from Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
.
Background and early life
Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel was born on 6 November 1966 in Malabo, Spanish GuineaSpanish Guinea
Spanish Guinea was an African colony of Spain that became the independent nation of Equatorial Guinea.-History:The Portuguese explorer, Fernão do Pó, seeking a route to India, is credited with having discovered the island of Bioko in 1472. He called it Formosa , but it quickly took on the name of...
(now Equatorial Guinea), the son of Manuel Ávila Fernández and Luisa Laurel Bizantino, both teachers and Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
settlers from Annobón
Annobón
Annobón may refer to:* Annobón Province* Annobonese language* Annobon people...
island. He studied primary school in Annobón
Annobón
Annobón may refer to:* Annobón Province* Annobonese language* Annobon people...
(Annobonese language
Annobonese language
The Annobonese language, known to its speakers as Fá d'Ambô or Fa d'Ambu, is spoken by 2,500 in the Annobon and Bioko Islands off the coast of Equatorial Guinea, mostly by people of mixed African, Spanish, and Portuguese descent....
) and then completed his secondary studies in Malabo
Malabo
Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island on the rim of a sunken volcano....
. Ávila Laurel graduated as a medical nurse.
Writings
Juan Tomás Avila Laurel is a member of the “new” Equatorial-Guinean literature movement, a generation of young authors whose first texts began to appear in the 1990s. He is considered one of the leading representatives of what has been called “New Guinean lyricism”.His work is characterized by and incisive criticism of the social and political realities, and the economic inequalities, in his country in particular and in Africa in general. He has participated in literary activities of the Centro Cultural Hispano-Guineano at Malabo
Malabo
Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island on the rim of a sunken volcano....
. He has written novel, poetry and essay. He works as an editor in chief for El Patio, published by the Centro Cultural Hispano-Guineano.
Themes as an essayist
His writings as an essayist are noted for thought provoking commentary — sometimes in a markedly pessimistic vein — on a variety of subjects relating to Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
including descriptions of the geographical and psychological situation of Annobón
Annobón
Annobón may refer to:* Annobón Province* Annobonese language* Annobon people...
and reflections on the national flag.
Works
In 2003 was appointed Joseph G. Astman Distinguised Faculty Lecturer at Hofstra UniversityHofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
, New York. He has been invited speaker at conferences in Korea, Switzerland, and several times in Spain and in the United States. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including novels, plays, poetry, essays, and film scripts, and has several unpublished manuscripts, some of them forthcoming. Among his published titles are:
- 1994 - Poemas (Ediciones del Centro Cultural Hispano-Guineano, 1994)
- 1994 - Los hombres domésticos (Ediciones CCHG)
- 1998 - Rusia se va a Asamse (Ediciones CCHG)
- 1999 - La carga (Editorial Palmart, 1999)
- 1999 - Historia íntima de la humanidad (Ediciones Pángola, Malabo, 1999)
- 2000 - El derecho de pernada (Editorial Pángola, Malabo)
- 2000 - Áwala cu sangui (Editorial Pángola, Malabo)
- 2001 - El desmayo de Judas (Ediciones CCHG)
- 2002 - Nadie tiene buena fama en este país (Editorial Malamba, Avila, España)
- 2002 - Misceláneas guineoecuatorianas
- 2004 - El fracaso de las sombras
- 2005 - Cómo convertir este país en un paraíso: otras reflexiones sobre Guinea Ecuatorial
- 2006 - Guinea ecuatorial: vísceras (Institucio Alfons el Magnanim, 2006)
- 2007 - Cuentos crudos (Centro Cultural Español de Malabo, 2007)
- 2008 - Avión de ricos, ladrón de cerdos (El Cobre, 2008)
- 2009 - Arde el monte de noche (Calambur Editorial, 2009)