IMANI AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY MOZAMBICAN IN MULHERES DE CINZAS, DE MIA COUTO
: Identities; Imani; Mozambican Literature; Mia Couto
The literature produced in Mozambique reproduced European’s literary models for almost the entire period in which Portugal dominated the country. Only in the 19th century did Mozambique begin to produce literature on its own territory. The first writers who created Mozambican literature, aimed to raise awareness among the population of their roles in the new state that emerged after independence. Those stories about nation and memories, help create national images and – consequently - identity. As an important Mozambican author, Mia Couto is known for his literary production and the position he held during the post-independence period in the country. His literary productions are an important piece in the process of constructing identity, reevaluating traditional customs and recovering specific elements of culture. Mulheres de Cinzas is the first novel of the trilogy, As Areias do Imperador, which brings in its narrative the perspective of Imani, a woman born in the region that is now Mozambique and experienced the arrival of colonizers and the process of resistance and acculturation suffered by her people. The objective is to analyze how identity and identity construction are present in this work.