The month of May ended with a memorable occasion at the Brazilian Academy of Letters (APL). On May 30, Professor Djamila Ribeiro participated in the opening of the exhibit The Female Presence in Brazilian Literature: A Difficult Path, moderating a panel dedicated to Black literature alongside writers Luiz Maurício Azevedo and Calila Das Mercês.

“It was a promising morning, with a full house and rich debates,” wrote Professor Ribeiro on her Instagram. “It was very special to moderate a panel on Black literature with Luiz Maurício Azevedo and Calila Das Mercês.”

The discussion she led helped broaden the scope of the exhibit by highlighting authors and experiences often overlooked in traditional literary circles. By bringing this conversation into the APL, Djamila reinforces a broader movement toward recognizing the diversity of voices that shape Brazilian cultural production.

Rare works

Curated by historian Mary del Priore, the exhibit features rare books and first editions by Brazilian women writers from the 18th to the 21st centuries — including Teresa Margarida da Silva e Orta, Nísia Floresta, Cecília Meireles, Clarice Lispector, and Adélia Prado. The exhibit is free and open to the public until June 27.

The program also included a panel honoring the legacy of Lygia Fagundes Telles, whose former seat — number 28 at the Academy — is now held by Djamila Ribeiro. Reflecting on the moment, she wrote on social media: “It was delightful to hear so many stories about the writer and the woman Lygia. Succeeding her in Seat 28 is a mission I carry with great joy and gratitude.”