Launched at BCI, a book that immortalizes memories and humor of Zambézia

The BCI Auditorium, in Maputo, hosted, on Wednesday (30), the launch of the book “Alagúrdia, um Neologismo Simbolizante”, by António Barros and Lo-Chi, which recovers stories, experiences, expressions and the humor of António Germano Barros, affectionately known as A. Barros.

The work brings together narratives inspired by the repertoire of A. Barros, father of co-author António Barros, an excellent storyteller who, during his travels as a driver through Zambézia, transformed everyday episodes into stories marked by humor, irony, creativity, and a unique capacity for linguistic invention.

At the opening of the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of BCI, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, highlighted that the work goes beyond the launch of a book, representing "the journey of a man who has spent decades between journalism, especially radio broadcasting, and writing, transforming experiences, stories and memories into words".

In the year that BCI celebrates its 30th anniversary, the Chairman of the Board reaffirmed the importance that the Bank attaches to culture and knowledge in the construction of the country. “A bank can finance projects, but the progress of a society requires much more. It demands knowledge, it demands creativity, it demands culture, it demands memories,” stated Carlos Agostinho do Rosário. He emphasized that, by opening its Auditorium to literature, the arts, and other forms of expression, BCI creates space for ideas to circulate, stories to remain, and knowledge to be shared.

In presenting the work, Barros dos Santos led those present to the origins of the stories, describing A. Barros as a storyteller known throughout Zambézia. “This book didn’t begin in a publishing house. It began on a dirt road, in the back of an old Bedford truck,” he stated, recalling the journeys during which A. Barros transported goods and, at the same time, carried with him news and stories that, at each stop, won over new listeners.

It is also from this universe of creativity that the title of the work is born. "Alagúrdia" was one of the words invented by A. Barros to designate a situation of plenty or abundance, forming part of a repertoire of his own expressions that gave uniqueness to his way of telling stories.

In his speech, co-author Lo-Chi revealed that the idea of ​​recording A. Barros's stories dates back to the two authors' youth. More than five decades later, the project has become a book, fulfilling a long-held intention and transforming oral history into a work destined to transcend generations.

Visibly moved, António Barros revealed the emotional dimension of the work: “It’s a book to immortalize the stories and memory of my father.” Thirty-five years after his passing, A. Barros’s stories continue to circulate, some of them told by people who never got to know him. It is this oral memory, made of humor, humanity, creativity, and identity, that “Alagúrdia, um Neologismo Simbolizante” seeks to preserve and transmit to new generations of readers.

By hosting this launch, BCI reinforces its commitment to promoting Mozambican literature, culture, and talent, recognizing the preservation of collective memory as an essential dimension of the country's development and identity building.