David Shook

A Conversation with Tomas Avila Laurel

In February 2011 Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (b. 1966) declared a hunger strike in order to bring attention to the political situation in Equatorial Guinea, where the longstanding authoritarian regime works in tandem with the compliance of foreign powers. Concerned for the security of the author, national and international observers recommended that he leave the country. Today, Ávila Laurel lives in Spain, where he has become, in his own words, a “migrant due to political causes.” In Spain, Ávila Laurel continues his writing, alongside a pacific fight for democracy. Aside from his ethical commitment to justice and solidarity with the people of his country and all marginalized peoples, Ávila Laurel has created a literary aesthetic that is informed by this multilingual, multicultural environment. Thus, his literary style is marked by images that synthesize his society, reflect on world history, and connect Equatorial Guinea to other nations, across time and geography.