Léonora Miano

A French citizen born in Cameroon (1973), Léonora Miano is a great voice in French speaking literature. A novelist, playwright and essayist, she is the author of more than 20 books. Her work explores sub-Saharan or Afro-descendant experiences. Léonora Miano has been awarded the famous Prix Goncourt des lycéens in 2006 for Contours du jour qui vient (Plon), the Seligmann Prize against racism in 2012 for Écrits pour la parole (L'Arche), the prestigious Prix Fémina and the Grand Prix du roman métis in 2013 for La saison de l'ombre (Grasset). In 2020, the University of Lorraine, in collaboration with the University of the Greater Region which brings together 6 European academic institutions, created the "Prix Frontières – Léonora Miano" in tribute to her writings and commitments. In 2024, she received the Prix des mots pour Changer at the Blue Metropolis Festival in Montreal.

Léonora Miano has founded and curates the Quilombola series at Seagull Books, an independent publisher located in Kolkata (India). She has founded and runs The Quilombo Publishing in Lomé (Togo) where she resides.

Also a stage artist, Léonora Miano has been offering performances mixing music and literature for about ten years. She is an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France).