“With poetry and the power of our love, we will bring the Archipelagos of Macaronesia ever closer together, placing them in a wider universe.”

For budgetary reasons, the 8th EIPOEMA – International Meeting of Macaronesian Poetry – which was due to take place in Las Palmas last October, will now be held from January 12 to 17, 2026, in Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma, with the support of this municipality.

The Commissioner for the Canary Islands, the prestigious poet Aquiles Garcia Brito, is making every effort to ensure that this session is as successful as the previous meetings, which took place in the Azores, Ponta Delgada – City of Poets (2017, 2019, and 2024); in Madeira, Porto Santo – Refuge of Poets (2018 and 2022); an edition in Gran Canaria, Las Palmas (2021) and in Cape Verde, Praia (2023).

The initiative for these meetings came from the author of this chronicle, which was soon echoed by three personalities: Dr. José Manuel Bolieiro, at the time Mayor of Ponta Delgada, now President of the Government of the Azores; Dr. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government of Madeira; and Dr. Eduardo Jesus, Secretary of Tourism, Environment, and Culture.

They were undoubtedly the pillars of this initiative, which brings together the archipelagos of Macaronesia and whose philosophy is not only to bring the archipelagos of Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands closer together through culture, a powerful vehicle for promotion, but also to raise awareness of the islands’ poets and their works, with a focus on Europe in a wider universe, drawing attention to the islands.

This work is already happening with the connection to the poets of the planet.

Evidently, the support of the official entities of Cape Verde and the Canary Islands was later confirmed. One of the organizers’ intentions is to make this meeting official, that is, to include it in the cultural calendars of the aforementioned islands, thus ensuring its annual permanence.

It should be noted that last year’s session in the City of Poets was met with understanding by the Mayor, Dr. Pedro Nascimento Cabral, who supported it without hesitation.

A detailed program was drawn up for this 8th Meeting, taking into account the short time available:

On January 12, the poets will arrive on the island of La Palma. The following day, at 10 a.m., the poets will visit the Archaeological Museum, with a stop at the Tajogaite Volcano. At 5 p.m., the opening session of the 8th Meeting (public ceremony) will take place in the Assembly Hall of the House of Culture, the Noble Hall of the Municipality.

This inaugural ceremony will be attended by official representatives. Speakers will include: Commissioner of the Canary Islands – Aquiles Garcia Brito; Commissioner of Cape Verde – Vera Duarte; Commissioner of the Azores – José de Andrade; International Commissioner – João Carlos Abreu.

The Councilor for Culture of Los Llanos de Aridane, Marlene González Almeida, will also speak. This will be followed by a lecture by Dr. Marcelino de Castro, Coordinator of the Cultural Advisors of the Encounters, on the eight years of activity of “EIPOEMA.”

At 8 p.m., there will be a welcome reception by local authorities.

On Wednesday, January 14, there will be a visit to official institutes, with the participation of poets and students.

At 4:30 p.m., the 1st Panel: Poetry as a practice of Utopia, against barbaric times; and the 2nd Panel: Macaronesian insular fragmentation, paradigm as a universal language.

At 7:00 p.m., “Poetry Takes to the Streets”: recital at the door of the house that hosted Dulce Maria Loynaz, returning from Cuba, in honor of the poet Manuel Diaz Martinez.

Thursday, January 15: The Book Fair will be held in the square of Los Llanos de Aridane, with an exhibition and sale of books by the participating poets. Presentation of the book of proceedings of the VIII EIPOE-MA – 2024; and also a posthumous book by the Cuban poet, exiled in the Canary Islands, Manuel Diaz Martinez; and another, Reparto e Localizações, by the poet Aquiles Garcia Brito.

At 4 pm, the 3rd Panel: The Volcano of Poetry, builder of a new era; at 5:30 pm, the 4th Panel: Poetry beyond the contemporary world.

At 8 p.m.: theatrical performance of the texts of the participating poets, translated into Spanish.

There will also be a special moment with poems by poets from Madeira and the Azores, recited by the poet Eleonora, to mark the 50th anniversary of the autonomy of the two regions: Madeira and the Azores.

January 16, at 11 a.m., in the main public square: poetry recital and musical concert.

At 4:30 p.m., the Closing Ceremony: conference; presentation of diplomas; presentation of the Book of Proceedings of the VII EIPO-EMA – 2024; announcement of the call for the IX edition, in Porto Santo; closing of the ceremony by the Minister of Culture.

Next October, the IX edition will be held in Porto Santo – Refúgio de Poetas (Refuge of Poets) – as part of the celebrations of 50 years of autonomy, to which some internationally renowned poets have been invited.

We cannot fail to praise the commitment and enthusiasm of the poet Aquiles Brito, Commissioner, who did everything to ensure that the rhythm of the sessions was not lost. His work as host deserves the gratitude of all poets.

In Correio dos Açores, Natalino Viveira, director

Written by João Carlos Abreu, translated into English by Diniz Borges.