Aminta del Rosario Buenaño Rugel (Santa Lucía, Ecuador, September 27, 1958) is an Ecuadorian writer, journalist, diplomat, and politician. She is celebrated for her literary works that explore women’s experiences and feminist themes, with notable titles such as La mansión de los sueños (1985) and Mujeres divinas (2006). As vice-president of Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly, she played a pivotal role in drafting the 2008 Constitution, advocating for gender equality. Buenaño has also served as Ecuador’s ambassador to Spain and Nicaragua. Among her many accolades is the prestigious Jauja International Short Story Prize of Valladolid (1979). Her most recent novel, Un blues para Roberto (2022), delves into themes of love and loss, and was presented at the 2022 International Book Fair in Guayaquil.
Early Life and Education
Aminta Buenaño Rugel was born on September 27, 1958, in Santa Lucía, Canton Daule, Guayas Province, Ecuador. She was the second of five siblings in a family that valued education and literature. Her father, Héctor Buenaño Sarco, owned a rice mill, while her mother, Zoila Gloria Rugel Vulgarín, became a university professor specializing in grammar. Buenaño’s early education began in her hometown, where she demonstrated an early flair for storytelling, often captivating her classmates with imaginative tales.
At the age of twelve, she moved to Guayaquil to live with her maternal relatives and continued her education at Escuela República de la Argentina. Buenaño’s family relocated to the city when her mother pursued studies in literature at the Universidad Católica de Guayaquil. There, Buenaño enrolled at Colegio Nacional Dolores Sucre, where she stood out as an exceptional student, excelling in literature and consistently earning top marks.
Literary Career
Buenaño’s literary journey began early, with her first published work, a poetry collection titled Cantos de amor y juventud (1976), which captured her youthful reflections. Although she later considered it immature, this marked the beginning of her career as a writer. After completing high school in 1977, she pursued a degree in languages at the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil.
In her early career, she worked as a journalist for El Telégrafo, where she wrote independent pieces, often using creative and humorous formats, such as an article where a donkey humorously commented on Ecuador’s political situation. Later, she transitioned to more serious interviews with notable figures, including Salvador Dalí and Mario Vargas Llosa, which further established her reputation in the literary and journalistic world.
During a stint in Spain, she won the XXI Concurso de Cuento “Ciudad de San Sebastián” (1978) for her short story ¿Quién era ella?. This accomplishment was followed by the prestigious Jauja Prize for her story Mamaisaura in 1979.
In 1985, she published La Mansión de los Sueños, a collection of short stories, marking her emergence as a significant voice in Ecuadorian literature. Over the years, her works, including La otra piel (1992) and Mujeres divinas (2006), addressed various aspects of the female experience, contributing to her recognition as a feminist writer. Her 2011 novel Si tú mueres primero became a finalist in the XIII Concurso Internacional de Novela Ciudad de Badajoz.
Political Career
In 2007, Buenaño entered politics as a member of the PAIS Alliance, participating in Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting the 2008 Constitution. She was elected vice-president of the Assembly and was a strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. Buenaño played an essential role in shaping articles that promoted gender parity in the new constitution.
Her diplomatic career began in 2011 when she was appointed Ecuador’s ambassador to Spain, followed by a posting as ambassador to Nicaragua in 2014. Throughout these appointments, she continued advocating for social justice and equality, aligning with the socialist ideals of Ecuador’s government at the time.
Feminism and Social Advocacy
Throughout her career, Aminta Buenaño has been a staunch advocate for women’s rights. In the late 1980s, she spearheaded a feminist movement through her writings in Expreso, challenging traditional roles imposed on women in Ecuadorian society. She launched the feminist magazine La Maga in 1988, a platform for intellectual discourse on gender equality, discrimination, and social justice.
Her activism extended beyond Ecuador, participating in international feminist congresses, including one held in Mexico in 1987. Her work continues to inspire women’s movements within Ecuador and across Latin America.
Recent Years and Legacy
Aminta Buenaño’s legacy as a writer, journalist, politician, and diplomat is marked by her contributions to Ecuadorian literature, her role in advancing women’s rights, and her influence on the country’s political and social landscape. Her literary works have been featured in numerous anthologies, and she has received various awards for her contributions, including the Premio Nacional de Cuentos Diario El Tiempo and the Juan León Mera Prize.
In her personal life, Buenaño married Dr. Roberto Echeverría Murillo in 1981, with whom she has one child. She continues to live in Ecuador, where she remains active in both literature and social causes.
Timeline of Aminta Buenaño Rugel’s Life
1958:
- September 27 – Aminta del Rosario Buenaño Rugel is born in Santa Lucía, Canton Daule, Guayas Province, Ecuador. Her father, Héctor Buenaño Sarco, was a rice mill owner, and her mother, Zoila Gloria Rugel Vulgarín, later became a university professor.
1960s–1970s:
- Begins her early education in Santa Lucía, demonstrating a natural talent for storytelling and creativity.
- 1970 – Moves to Guayaquil to live with relatives, attending Escuela República de la Argentina.
- Enrolls at Colegio Nacional Dolores Sucre, where she excels academically and becomes known for her poetry and literature.
- 1976 – Publishes her first poetry collection, Cantos de amor y juventud, showcasing her early poetic development.
- 1977 – Graduates from high school with honors, specializing in Philosophical and Social Sciences. Enrolls in the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil to study languages.
1978:
- Travels to Spain for personal growth and education, working in Madrid and attending the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Initially studies Filología Hispánica but later switches to pedagogy.
- 1978 – Wins the prestigious XXI Concurso de Cuento “Ciudad de San Sebastián” (21st San Sebastián City Short Story Contest) for her short story ¿Quién era ella?, marking her first major literary achievement.
1979:
- 1979 – Wins the Jauja International Short Story Prize of Valladolid for her short story Mamaisaura, further solidifying her reputation as a talented short story writer.
1980s:
- 1981 – Marries Dr. Roberto Echeverría Murillo, a psychiatrist, and they have one son.
- 1985 – Publishes La mansión de los sueños, a collection of short stories, which establishes her as an important figure in Ecuadorian literature.
- 1987 – Receives the Second Prize in the III Concurso Nacional de Relatos Juan León Mera for her short story El dulce misterio de Maria Asunción, exploring themes of magical realism.
1990s:
- 1992 – Publishes La otra piel, another collection of short stories, enhancing her literary career.
- Participates in several literary anthologies, including Mujeres ecuatorianas en el relato (1988), Veintiún cuentistas ecuatorianos (1996), and Antología de narradoras ecuatorianas (1997).
- 1998 – Represents Ecuador at the I International Congress for Young Writers in Madrid, where she is recognized for her contributions to Ecuadorian literature.
2000s:
- 2006 – Publishes Mujeres divinas, a significant work focusing on women’s experiences, such as menstruation, motherhood, and societal pressures, solidifying her role as a prominent feminist writer in Ecuador.
- 2007 – Enters politics as a member of the PAIS Alliance party and is elected to the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly, where she plays a critical role in drafting the 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution.
- 2008 – Serves as Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly and contributes to the creation of a constitution that emphasizes gender equality and human rights.
2010s:
- 2010 – Her novel Si tú mueres primero is a finalist in the XIII Concurso Internacional de Novela Ciudad de Badajoz, gaining international recognition for its exploration of love, betrayal, and societal issues.
- 2011 – Appointed Ecuador’s ambassador to Spain by President Rafael Correa, marking the beginning of her diplomatic career.
- 2014 – Becomes Ecuador’s ambassador to Nicaragua, continuing her diplomatic work in Latin America.
- 2017–2018 – Briefly serves as Ecuador’s ambassador to Barbados, completing her tenure in international diplomacy.
- 2018 – Returns to Ecuador after concluding her diplomatic career, focusing once again on writing and literary pursuits.
2020s:
- 2022 – Publishes Un blues para Roberto, a deeply personal novel reflecting on themes of love and loss, inspired by her own life experiences. The novel is presented at the 2022 International Book Fair in Guayaquil.
Videos
Interview with Aminta Buenaño on Detrás de las Letras
Aminta Buenaño presents her new book Con (textos) fugaces (2018)
Accolades and Recognitions
- XXI Concurso de Cuento “Ciudad de San Sebastián” (21st San Sebastián City Short Story Contest, 1978)
- Premio Internacional de Cuentos Jauja de Valladolid (Jauja International Short Story Prize of Valladolid, 1979)
- Premio Nacional de Cuentos Diario El Tiempo (National Short Story Prize by Diario El Tiempo)
- Segundo Premio en el III Concurso Nacional de Relatos Juan León Mera (Second Prize in the 3rd Juan León Mera National Short Story Contest, 1987)
- Finalist in the XIII Concurso Internacional de Novela Ciudad de Badajoz (Finalist in the 13th Badajoz City International Novel Contest, 2011)
Selected Works
Short stories
- La mansión de los sueños (1985)
- La otra piel (1992)
- Mujeres divinas (2006)
- Virgen de media noche y otros relatos (2010)
- Con (textos) fugaces (2017)
Novels
- Si tú mueres primero (2011)
- Un blues para Roberto (2022)
Anthologies
Her stories have been published in the following anthologies:
- Mujeres ecuatorianas en el relato (1988)
- Primera Bienal del Cuento Ecuatoriano “Pablo Palacio” (Quito, 1991)
- Veintiún cuentistas ecuatorianos (Quito, 1996)
- Antología de narradoras ecuatorianas (Quito, 1997)
- 40 cuentos ecuatorianos (Quito, 1997)
- Antología básica del cuento ecuatoriano (Quito, 1998)