Writers from El Oro - Ecuadorian Literature

Mariana Cortázar

Mariana Cortázar Crespo (Portovelo, 1946) is an Ecuadorian writer and historian. Her work is characterized by a deep commitment to researching and narrating the history of her native province, El Oro, and other coastal regions of Ecuador. A significant part of her literary contribution lies in her valuable research, with books like “Portovelo cuenta su historia” and “El Oro de Portovelo” standing out as notable examples of her ability to unravel and share the rich history of her region. These works have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious David Rodas Maldonado Award from the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, núcleo El Oro, in 2014. In the same year, she was also honored with the Rosa Vivar Award by the Municipality of Portovelo. Mariana Cortázar’s dedication to preserving and promoting Ecuador’s cultural heritage is further evident in her book “Julio Jaramillo: Nuestro patrimonio,” which pays homage to the iconic Ecuadorian singer Julio Jaramillo.

Lauro Dávila Echeverría

Lauro Dávila Echeverría (Pasaje, El Oro, August 18, 1885 – Guayaquil, December 23, 1968) was an Ecuadorian writer, poet, songwriter, and teacher. He wrote the music and lyrics for 23 songs, including the beloved “Guayaquil de mis amores,” an anthem that encapsulates the pride and love for the city of Guayaquil. His significant contribution to music was acknowledged when he became a founding member and the first secretary general of the National Union of Musicians. Dávila’s legacy also extends to literature, having penned several poem collections and comedies. Throughout his life, he was recognized with various awards for his contributions to music and literature. He passed away at the age of 83 in Guayaquil, the city that inspired his most famous song.

Roy Sigüenza

Roy Sigüenza (Portovelo, El Oro Province, Ecuador, 1958) is an Ecuadorian writer and poet. His poetry is homoerotic in theme; he is known for transforming scenes of ordinary life into settings for erotic encounters. Although he has a penchant for brevity and simplicity of language, at times he makes use of greater stylization, while including references to other homosexual writers from both Europe and the United States. Within the Ecuadorian poetic scene, Sigüenza, speaking with a new lyric voice (that of a marginalized and persecuted homosexual), has developed a style that, very quickly, other poets have adopted as a reference point for their own work. One of the few authors in Ecuador willing to write of marginalized sexual experiences in an openly confessional manner, he has gained a certain status as a literary rebel within Ecuador.