Conceição Evaristo

Conceição Evaristo (born 1946) is a Brazilian writer, poet, scholar and one of the most important voices in contemporary Afro-Brazilian literature. Born in Belo Horizonte, she grew up in a working-class family and later moved to Rio de Janeiro, where she worked as a teacher while pursuing her studies.

Her writing explores Black identity, womanhood, racism, poverty, memory, ancestry and social inequality, often centering the experiences of Black women and marginalized communities. Her notable works include Ponciá Vicêncio, Becos da memória and Olhos d'água, which won the Jabuti Prize in 2015.

Evaristo is particularly known for the concept of “escrevivência,” a term she uses to describe writing rooted in lived experience, memory and the collective histories of Black people. Her work has been widely translated and has established her as an influential literary and cultural figure in Brazil and internationally.