Óscar Ribas

Who was Óscar Ribas?

Oscar Bento Ribas was an Angolan writer.

Ribas was born in Luanda, the son of Arnaldo Gonçalves Ribas and Maria de Conceição Bento Faria. His first publications were two novels: Nuvens que passam in 1927 and Resgate de uma falta in 1929.

Ribas suffered from gradual loss of eyesight in his 20s. Nevertheless, he continued to research and write. In 1950 he published: Flores e espinhos" and "Uanga and in 1952 Ecos da minha terra'. Together with Echoes Of My Land and The Evil Spell, Ribas's writings took on a distinct African character. The The Evil Spell is about the marriage of an African man and woman. It is interwoven with Mbundu fables, songs, and folklore. In 1969, Ribas published an expanded edition of the novel.