Bento Baloi

BENEATH THE SCAR

A Novel

translated by Sandra Tamele

Torn from his home and unjustly labelled as "unproductive," Bernardo's story is a testament to the power of resistance and resilience.

In the aftermath of Mozambique's independence, he is caught up in the machinery of Operation Production Engagement and sent to a reeducation camp in Milange — a brutal exile for those deemed idle by the system. His beloved Maria Helena is left in Maguaza, alone and pregnant.

Love, much like memory, proves to be indelible, refusing to be easily erased.

In "Beneath the Scar," Bento Baloi delves into the journey of a man who, armed with longing and dignity, survives the weight of ideology and the cruelty of being forgotten. This novel is a profound exploration of the scars that history leaves on the human spirit and the quiet rebellions of the heart. It serves as a tribute to those who endured, those who vanished, and those who waited.

It is a powerful story of love, exile, and the struggle to remain human when everything conspires to make you disappear.

Winner of the inaugural Mia Couto Literary Award (2023)