Entertainment · Books & Arts · 23 hrs ago
Luciany Aparecida writes Black women into Brazil’s history
Luciany Aparecida is a writer from Bahia who wants to reshape how Brazil’s history is imagined by placing Black women at its center.
Her 2023 debut novel, “Mata Doce,” follows a cisgender woman, a travesti and their adopted daughter in a village in Bahia in the first half of the 20th century.
The book portrays older Black women supporting one another, while also addressing mental health, trauma, alcoholism and violence.
Aparecida connects some of these struggles to the long history of oppression faced by Black people in Brazil.
“Mata Doce” was shortlisted for the Jabuti Prize in 2024, won the São Paulo Literature Prize and was added to a university entrance-exam reading list in 2026.
Her next novel, “Tinta da Bahia,” is complete and is scheduled for publication by Alfaguara in 2027.
Luciany Aparecida says her writing reimagines Brazilian history by placing Black women, especially older women, at the center.
Her debut novel, “Mata Doce,” follows a family living in a village in Bahia in the first half of the 20th century.
The novel was a finalist for the Jabuti Prize in 2024 and won the São Paulo Prize for Literature.
In 2026, “Mata Doce” was included on the required reading list for entrance-exam candidates at the State University of Southwestern Bahia.
Aparecida has completed her next novel, “Tinta da Bahia,” which is scheduled for publication in 2027.
- Who
- Luciany Aparecida, a writer from Bahia.
- What
- She writes stories that reimagine Brazilian history with Black women at their center.
- When
- Her debut novel was released in 2023; her next novel is scheduled for 2027.
- Where
- The novels discussed are set in Bahia, Brazil.
- Why
- She says positive images of Black people can help Afro-Brazilians reflect on and transform the effects of centuries of violence and oppression.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Aparecida's debut novel, “Mata Doce,” was released.
Mata Doce” was a finalist for the Jabuti Prize and won the São Paulo Prize for Literature.
The novel was included on the required reading list for entrance-exam candidates at the State University of Southwestern Bahia.
Aparecida's completed novel “Tinta da Bahia” is scheduled to be published by Editora Alfaguara.
- Author
- Luciany Aparecida
- Debut novel
- Mata Doce,” released in 2023
- Jabuti Prize
- Finalist in 2024
- São Paulo Prize for Literature
- Won by “Mata Doce
- Required reading
- State University of Southwestern Bahia entrance exams, 2026
- Next novel
- Tinta da Bahia,” scheduled for 2027
What people are saying
I wanted to bring a new imaginary to stories of older Black women in rural communities.
I wanted to bring images of these women comforting one another, hugging, stroking one another's hair, planting a rose garden.
It is a trauma passed on culturally and also genetically.
Sources
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