Tribuna Cultural is a weekly programme featuring literature, cinema, music and anything related to the arts in the Portuguese-speaking countries and the rest of the world.
Please scroll down to listen to and read a little on some editions of Tribuna Cultural.
Mia Couto, born in 1955, is considered Mozambique's foremost novelist. His books have been published in over 22 countries and his first novel, "Terra Sonambula (Sleepwalking Land)", was hailed as one of the best 12 African books of the 20th century by an international jury in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. On 21st April 2007, Mia Couto became the first African writer to win the prestigious Latin Union International Prize. Luis produced a special programme on the award which included interviews with Mia Couto as well as other writers and members of the jury, such as Portuguese writer Lidia Jorge and Angolan author Jose Eduardo Agualusa.
Lidia Jorge Jose Eduardo Agualusa
Listen to this programme and read more about this award on BBC Para Africa's web site here.
“As mentiras da Verdade”, or “The lies of truth”, is the title of a song by Azagaia, a Mozambican university student (aka Edson da Luz) whose music and lyrics have had a huge impact in Mozambique and abroad since it was first played on local radios and TV stations.
Through hip-hop, Azagaia broaches many controversial subjects that appeared to have touched the Mozambican public – from the murder of journalist Carlos Cardoso, to heated debates on the existence of death squadrons in the police and corruption.
His courage to speak up for what, in his own words, “was only said within the safety of one’s home”, has been praised by many, but has also created some anxiety in the media, of which some sectors have been accused of censuring Azagaia’s music. Luis interviewed Azagaia for the BBC’s weekly Tribuna Cultural arts feature.
The murder of journalist Carlos Cardoso - gunned down in November 2000 - and the troubled trial that followed, is one of the subjects covered by Azagaia, who highlights the purported fear it has generated among journalists in Mozambique covering senstitive stories, particularly those involving corruption.
The death of President Samora Machel in 1986, when his aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain near the borders of Swaziland, South Africa and Mozambique is another sensitive story covered by Azagaia.
Click here to check out this story on bbcparaafrica.com or read the lyrics of “As mentiras da Verdade” here.
Ousmane Sembene, who died at 84 after a long illness, on 9th June, was often called the "Father of African Cinema." Sembene is credited with making the first feature film by a director from sub-Saharan Africa, 'The black girl from....' in 1966.
His latest work, Moolaade, with its harsh denunciation of female genital mutilation, won awards at the Cannes and Ouagadougou festivals.
His career was crowned with two prizes, the first with his film "The money order" in 1968 and the second with "The camp of Thiaroye", both at the Venice Film Festival.
He was born in the Casamance region of Senegal and went to an Islamic school. Later he fought for the Free French forces in World War II. Before the publication of his first novel, The Black Docker, in 1956, he worked in a car plant in Paris and was a trade union activist and member of the French communist Party.
He made a total of 10 films during his career. Much of his work focused on the effects of colonialism and religion, as well as the rise of the African middle class.
Mozambican filmmaker Camilo de Sousa and producer Pedro Pimenta paid tribute to Ousmane Sembene’s career in this week’s edition of Tribuna Cultural.
Carmen Souza started singing in church at the age of 14. Her work with composer and producer Theo Pas'cal produced her debut album "Ess ê nha Cabo Verde", a showcase of her unique take on the Creole traditions of Cape Verde. Carmen's comeback took place early in 2008 with her second album - in her own words, a more personal and mature sound - "Verdade".
I interviewed as she prepared to embark on a tour of Portugal and the UK.
Find out more about this interview with Carmen here on bbcparaafrica.com or read (and listen) here an earlier conversation conducted by Radio 3, when Carmen took part, for the first time, on the prestigious Womad.
Three African novelists - Angolan Ondjaki, 31, Nigerian Ben Okri, 49 and Kenyan Ngugi wa Thiong’o, 70 were awarded the Grinzane For Africa prize in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The award was sponsored by an Italian foundation and given as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Ngugi won the Grinzane “Heritage Prize”, Okri the “Mainstream Prize” and Ondjaki - who already has five novels to his name (listen to an earlier programme with him here), the “Young Author of the Year” prize.
Mayra 
Vosso Amor, o Meu Sorriso is the first feature film by director Afonso Januário.
Azagaia is back with "A Marcha", a new track from his first album Babalaze, i.e. Hangover.
Carmen Souza started singing in church at the age of 14. Her work with composer and producer Theo Pas'cal produced her debut album "Ess ê nha Cabo Verde", a showcase of her unique take on the Creole traditions of Cape Verde. Carmen's comeback took place early in 2008 with her second album - in her own words, a more personal and mature sound - "Verdade".
Ondjaki was born in Luanda in 1977.
