Tony Raful wins 2014 National Literature Prize

Tony Raful wins 2014 National Literature Prize
Santo Domingo, January 27, 2014

Tony Raful Tejada has won the 2014 National Literature Prize, Dominican Republic’s main literary award, announced today the Corripio Foundation, the Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez, and the jurors, the rectors of the six major universities in the country.

The award includes a cash prize of RD$1,000,000 and a certificate. The solemn ceremony took place in the National Theatre.

Raful will make an appearance at 3:00 pm as a special guest at the IV Mini Book Fair at the Ágora Mall, organized by cultural manager Verónica Sención, which is taking place on the fourth floor. Raful will personally receive the compliments of many of his readers and followers.

The writer agreed to visit the book fair after receiving an invitation from Sención, Ilonka Nacidit Perdomo, and Nelly Ciprián, the organizers.

The poet was contacted by phone by the President of the Corripio Foundation, Mr. José Luis Corripio Estrada, who thanked the jury, composed of the rectors of the six major national universities (UASD, UNPHU, INTEC, PUCMM, UCE, and UCSD) or their representatives.

The poet, politician, and researcher, will receive the first public recognitions this afternoon at 3:00 pm, at the IV Mini Book Fair at the Ágora Mall, after receiving the invitation from the organizers.
The Award was instituted by Decree number 1053-2000 which establishes January 26th of each year (Duarte Day) as the date to officially announce the selection results.

His life

He was born in Santo Domingo on April 28th, 1951. He is a poet, essayist, and politician. He has a degree in Political Science from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, where he taught for several years in the School of Law.

He has been a Member of the National Congress for Santo Domingo three times (1982-1986, 1990-1994, 1994-1996). As a public administrator he was Deputy Director of the State radio station Radio Televisión Dominicana (1978-1980), Director of the National Library (1980-1982), Chairman of the Board of Culture of the City Council of the National District (1998-2000), and Secretary of State of Culture (2000-2004). Along with Pedro Peix and Andrés L. Mateo, he led the literary-themed television program Peña de tres and he has been a columnist for La Noticia and Listín Diario newspapers.

He began his literary career under the guidance of the University Cultural Movement of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and the group called Post-war Poets, which emerged after the April 1965 Revolution.

His work

POETRY. La poesía y el tiempo. Santo Domingo: Taller Publisher, 1972; Gestión de alborada. Santo Domingo: Taller Publisher, 1973; Abril, nacen alas delante de tus ojos. Santo Domingo: Alfa y Omega Publisher, 1980; Visiones del escriba. Santo Domingo: Taller Publisher, 1983; Pájaros y horizontes sitiados. Santo Domingo: Gente Publisher, 1984; La dorada mosca del fuego. Santo Domingo: Taller Publisher, 1988; La boda de Rosaura con la primavera. Santo Domingo: Taller Publisher, 1991. Poesía: antología personal 1972-1995. Santo Domingo: Corripio Publisher, 1995.

Source: eldia.com.do