It's the Brian Laris Show on WNYC.

Good morning again, everyone.

Tonight, Penn America, the organization that promotes literature and human rights,

especially the right to free expression,

will host its 61st annual literary award ceremony at Town Hall. This year, the ceremony is honoring,

among others, Mozambican author Miyakotu, with the Pan Nabokov Award for Achievement in International

Literature.

He was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won the Kamo Yesh Prize

considered one of the most important literary awards in the Portuguese language, among many others.

His fiction centers the stories of those who could be considered Mozambique's anti-heroes, peasants, women, and the victims of civil war,

and their struggles amidst the backdrop of the country's experience with colonialism under the Portuguese.

Joining us now to preview tonight's event and talk about the work of Penn America, promoting free expression right now, are Mia Koto,

Mozambican author and recipient of this year's Penn Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature,

and Clarice Rosa Sharif, Interim Co-C-CEO of Pan America.

Mia, Clarice, welcome to WNYC.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Brian, for having us today.

Clarice, by way of background for listeners who are unfamiliar,

tonight's event sometimes gets called the Oscars for books,

or maybe you call it that.

By way of introduction, what do tonight's awards represent?

...