Camões Prize
{{Short description|Literary award for Lusophone countries}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Camões Prize
Prémio Camões
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| image = Camões Prize.png
| imagesize = 200px
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| presenter = Direção-Geral do Livro, dos Arquivos e das Biblioteca (Portugal) and
Fundação Biblioteca Nacional (Brazil)
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| country = Lusophone countries
| reward = €100,000
| year = 1989
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The Camões Prize ({{Langx|pt|Prémio Camões}}, {{IPA|pt|ˈpɾɛmju kaˈmõjʃ}}), named after Luís de Camões, is the most prestigious prize for literature in the Portuguese language. The prize was established in 1989 and is supported by the governments of Brazil and Portugal. It is awarded annually to the author of an outstanding body of work written in Portuguese. Winners are selected by a jury and have included writers from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and Portugal. The monetary award is {{currency|100,000|EUR}}, making it among the richest literary prizes in the world. Past winners include José Saramago, Eugénio de Andrade, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, and Chico Buarque.
History
The Camões Prize was first introduced by the Additional Protocol to the Cultural Agreement between the Government of the Portuguese Republic and the Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil, dated 7 September 1966, which creates the Camões Prize, signed in Brasilia on 22 June 1988, and approved in Portugal by Decree No. 43/88 of 30 November 1988.{{cite web|url=https://dre.pt/application/dir/pdf1s/1988/11/27700/47474748.pdf|publisher=Diário da República|title=Decreto n.o 43/88|accessdate=June 18, 2015|date=November 11, 1988}}
This Protocol was replaced by a new one between the Portuguese Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil, signed in Lisbon on 17 April 1999, approved by Portugal through Decree 47/99 in the official gazette of 5 November 1999.{{cite web|url=https://dre.pt/application/dir/pdf1s/1999/11/258A00/76677669.pdf|publisher=Diário da República|title=Decreto n.o 47/99|accessdate=June 18, 2015|date=November 5, 1999}}
The first award was made in 1989, with the winner being Miguel Torga. In 2006, José Luandino Vieira became the first person to refuse the award.
Description
The Camões Prize is considered the most prestigious literary award in the Portuguese-speaking world.{{cite web |title=Camões Prize for Literature |url=https://antigo.bn.gov.br/en/explore/literary-prizes/camoes-prize-literature |website=Biblioteca Nacional |access-date=24 March 2025}}{{cite encyclopedia|last=Standish|first=Peter|editor=Verity Smith|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Latin American Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TB2PAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1252|title=Prizes|date=26 March 1997|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-31425-5|page=1252}} It is awarded for a body of work that contributes to the dissemination and recognition of Portuguese language.{{cite web |title=João Barrento wins Camões Prize |url=https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc23/communication/news-item?i=joao-barrento-wins-camoes-prize |website=Portugal.gov |access-date=24 March 2025 |date=10 October 2023}} It is awarded annually by the Portuguese Direção-Geral do Livro, dos Arquivos e das Biblioteca{{Cite web
|url=http://dglab.gov.pt/category/premios/
|title=Arquivo de Notícias, na categoria Prémios
|date=2019-05-22
|website=Direção-Geral do Livro, dos Arquivos e das Bibliotecas (DGLAB)
|publisher=DGLAB
|language=Portuguese
|access-date=2019-06-22}} (National Book, Archives and Libraries Department) and the Brazilian Fundação Biblioteca Nacional{{Cite web|url=https://www.bn.gov.br/explore/premios-literarios/premio-camoes-literatura
|title=Prêmio Camões de Literatura
|date=2019
|website=Biblioteca Nacional
|publisher=Biblioteca Nacional
|language=Portuguese
|access-date=2016-06-22}} (National Library Foundation). The award consists of a cash prize contributed by Brazil and Portugal. The value of the prize is set annually by agreement between the two countries, and currently stands at {{currency|100,000|EUR}}.
Writers in Portuguese from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries are considered for the prize. The winner is chosen by a specially designated jury, with representatives from Brazil, Portugal, and African countries with Portuguese as an official language.
Past winners
Winners per country
- {{BRA}} – 15
- {{PRT}} – 14
- {{MOZ}} – 3
- {{ANG}} – 2
- {{CPV}} – 2
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Camões Prize}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camoes Prize}}
Category:Portuguese-language literary awards
Category:Brazilian literary awards
Category:Portuguese literary awards
Category:Awards established in 1989
Category:1989 establishments in Brazil
Category:1989 establishments in Portugal