Luz Argentina Chiriboga Guerrero is an Afro-Ecuadorian poet, novelist and short story writer. She was born in Esmeraldas on April 1, 1940. Her works are concerned with Afro-Hispanic cultural identity and themes about women’s challenges. She is a member of the House of Ecuadorian Culture. Several of her novels have been translated into English, Italian and French.
Personal life
In 1962, Argentina Chiriboga married the Nobel-nominated Ecuadorian writer Nelson Estupiñán Bass (author of When the Guayacans Were in Bloom), leaving Quito for Esmeraldas. It was in 1968, with the influence and encouragement of her husband that she began writing.
Luz Argentina Chiriboga speaks about her life.
Memberships and Accolades
- Active Member of the Grupo América.
- Member of the Society of Ecuadorian Writers.
- Members of the Association of Contemporary Writers of Ecuador.
- Member of the Social Cultural Club of Esmeraldas.
- President of the Ecuadorian Genealogy Society Corporation, 2007-2008.
- Vicepresident of the Friends Society of Geneology Corporation, 2013-2014.
- She was included in the anthology of Ecuadorian women writers (Quito, 1997). Between the Silence of Voices: An Anthology of Contemporary Ecuadorean Women Poets (Quito, 1997).
- Mention at Cultural Merit, 2006, House of Ecuadorian Culture, Esmeraldas.
- General José de San Martín Prize. Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1986.
Published works
Novels
- Bajo la piel de los tambores (1991), translated into English as: Drums Under My Skin
- Jonatás y Manuela. (1994), Quito: Abrapalabra Editores
- En la noche del viernes (1997), Quito, SINAB translated into English as On Friday Nights.
- Cuéntanos, abuela (2002) Quito, Producción gráfica Ediciones, translated into French.
- Desde la sombra del silencio (2004)
- La nariz del diablo, (2010), translated into English as: The Devil’s Nose
Short Stories
- Este mundo no es de las feas, Editorial Libresa, 2006.
- Diáspora, Ardilla Editores, Quito, 1997.
Poetry
- La contraportada del deseo. Quito: Talleres Gráficos de Abya Ayala, 1992
- Palenque (décimas), Quito, Instituto Andino de Artes Populares,1999.
- Capitanas de la historia, Colección selva, Quito, Producción gráfica, 2003.
- Luis Vargas Torres y los niños, Ediciones Consejo Provincial de Esmeraldas, 2001.
- Con su misma voz, Colección Fuego, 2005.
- Manual de ecología para niños, Abra palabra Editores, 1992.
- Coplas afroesmeraldeñas (recopilación), Quito, producción gráfica, 2001.
Essays
- Escritores Esmeraldeños, tomos 1, 2, 3 (biografía, genealogía, producción y crítica literaria), Editorial e Imprenta Delta, 1995.
- La música popular frente a la mujer. Revista Cultura. Banco Central del Ecuador. Quito: 4.4 (1981):357-369.
- Raíces africanas en la nacionalidad ecuatoriana. En: “El negro en la Historia. Raíces africanas en la Nacionalidad Ecuatoriana. 500 años”. Quito: Centro de la Cultura Afro ecuatoriana, 1992. Tomo III. Colección Medio Milenio volumen 9, SAG. pp.129-139.
Memoirs
- Mis recuerdos. Quito: Corporación SAG. Boletín Informativo N° 5 (2008), pp. 33-38.
Anthology
- Antología de narradoras ecuatorianas (Quito, 1997).
- Between the Silence of Voices: An Anthology of Contemporary Ecuadorean Women Poets (Quito, 1997).