The renowned Mozambican writer Paulina Chiziane has been awarded the 2021 Camões Prize and took the opportunity to call for a change in the way the Portuguese language is used, arguing that a "cleansing" and "decolonisation" of it is needed so that it can be truly accessible to all its speakers.
During her speech at the award ceremony, held in Lisbon, Paulina Chiziane highlighted that there are "some specificities" of the Portuguese language that intimidate her, referring to examples of definitions in Portuguese-language dictionaries for certain words, which reveal a discriminatory and prejudiced character towards certain communities or customs.
For example, the author mentioned the word "catinga", which is described in dictionaries as a "nauseating smell characteristic of the black race", a definition that left her deeply saddened and perplexed. The writer also denounced the way the word "matriarchy" is often presented as an "African tribal custom", while the word "patriarchy" is seen as a "heroic tradition of the patriarchs", which shows the presence of sexism and gender discrimination in the Portuguese language.
For Paulina Chiziane, it is essential that the Portuguese language undergo a "cleansing" and "decolonisation", so that it can be truly accessible and inclusive for all its speakers. The author argues that the Portuguese language needs to be treated with respect and in a way that reflects its cultural diversity and its history.
Paulina Chiziane, who describes herself as a writer "from nowhere", said she was deeply honoured to receive the Camões Prize, above all because it is such an important distinction on World Portuguese Language Day. The author thanked her readers in Mozambique and in all Portuguese-speaking countries, highlighting the importance of working together to promote inclusion and cultural diversity.
