“Exilios y Lejanías. Relatos de mujeres colombianas” was presented in Bilbao with the participation of several of the book’s authors

On Wednesday 19 June 2024 the presentation of the book Exilios y Lejanías. Relatos de mujeres colombianas (Exiles and Distances. Stories of Colombian Women) took place at the Faculty of Economics and Business (Sarriko). Around 30 people attended the event to find out more about this book, which was the result of writing workshops involving the participation of a number of Colombian women exiled in different countries around the world due to the armed conflict.

Three of the fourteen authors of Exilios y Lejanías, Linda Rakel Rengifo, Gloria Mendiola and Berta Quiroz Botina, took part in this activity. Together with the book’s illustrator, Lina Jiménez Numpaque, they read excerpts from stories by their fellow authors. They also answered questions about the writing process and the challenges and benefits of this exercise of capturing, through their writing and illustrations, what they themselves have experienced in the context of exile.

The activity ended with everyone participating in the dances and songs brought to the event from the Pacific and the Colombian Caribbean coasts, which had the effect of alleviating and transforming the powerful emotions which had been stirred up in those in attendance throughout the event.

You can find more information about the book and download the PDF from the Hegoa Publications website.