Gioconda Belli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gioconda Belli
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Belli at Leipzig Book Fair 2016
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| Born | December 9, 1948 Managua, Nicaragua |
| Occupation | Poet, author, novelist |
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Gioconda Belli (born December 9, 1948) is a famous writer and poet from Nicaragua. She is known for her amazing books and poems.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gioconda Belli grew up in a wealthy family in Managua, Nicaragua. Her father was Humberto Belli Zapata.
When she was young, she went to a boarding school in Spain. She graduated from the Royal School of Santa Isabel in Madrid. Later, she studied advertising and journalism in Philadelphia, USA. When she was 19, she returned to Nicaragua, got married, and had her first daughter.
Her Journey and Activism
Gioconda Belli started her career working for Pepsi-Cola. She then moved to an advertising agency. Through her work, she met a person who introduced her to a group called the Sandinistas.
In 1970, Belli joined the Sandinista movement. This group was fighting against the Somoza family, who were ruling Nicaragua like a dictatorship. Belli helped the movement in secret. She carried messages and even helped transport weapons. She also traveled to other countries to get support and resources for their cause.
Because of her involvement, she had to leave Nicaragua in 1975 and live in exile in Mexico. She returned in 1979, just before the Sandinistas won. After their victory, she worked as a contact person for the international press. She also became the director of State Communications.
Later, Belli started to disagree with the government led by Daniel Ortega, who was also a Sandinista. She became a strong critic of his government. In 2023, the Ortega government took away her Nicaraguan citizenship. However, the government of Chile offered her citizenship, which she accepted. She now lives in exile in Madrid, Spain.
Her Writing Career
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Gioconda Belli published her first poems in 1970 in a Nicaraguan newspaper. In 1972, she won an award for her poetry called the Premio de Poesía Mariano Fiallos Gil.
In 1988, her novel La Mujer Habitada (which means The Inhabited Woman) became very popular. This book was partly based on her own life. It talked about women's issues during the Nicaraguan revolution. The book was translated into many languages and was even studied in universities in the United States. It tells two stories at once: one about native people fighting against the Spanish, and another about a modern fight for freedom in Central America. Both stories show themes of women's freedom, love, and dedication to a cause.
In 2000, she wrote her autobiography, El país bajo mi piel (The Country Under My Skin). This book shared her experiences in the revolutionary movement. It was a finalist for a big book award in the US.
Belli believes that poetry is her most important work. She has won many awards for her writing. In 2008, she won the Premio Biblioteca Breve for her book El infinito en la palma de la mano (Infinity in the Palm of The Hand). This book is a story that uses symbols, like the story of Adam and Eve in paradise.
Her books have been translated into many different languages, reaching readers all over the world. One of her books, El País de las Mujeres (The Country of Women), tells the story of a world where women are in charge.
Awards and Recognition
Gioconda Belli has received many awards for her poetry and novels. Some of them include:
- "Mariano Fiallos Gil de Poesía" award, Nicaragua, 1972
- "Casa de las Américas" award, Cuba, 1978
- Award from German booksellers, librarians, and publishers in 1989 for La Mujer Habitada, calling it the "best political novel of the year"
- "Anna Seghers de la Academia de Artes de Alemania" award, 1989
- Medal of recognition from the Ruben Dario National Theater of Nicaragua for her cultural work
- "Internacional de Poesía Generación del 27" award, 2002
- "Biblioteca Breve Award", 2008
- "Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award" for "best novel", 2008
- "Oxfam Novib/PEN Award" in 2019
- Honourary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, 2024
See also
In Spanish: Gioconda Belli para niños
