Tribute to Rigoberta Menchú in Filgua 2026
The International Book Fair in Guatemala (Filgua) began its 2026 edition with a recognition of Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú Tum. Germany participated as the guest of honor.
“I felt like a peacock, I felt dignified,” Menchú expressed through tears. “Receiving a tribute here is not only worth a Nobel Peace Prize, diplomas and keys of honor, everything is worth it, this is a very important plus that they give me a hug here in this land where I was born, how beautiful to receive a tribute in life.”
The activist recalled her book My name is Rigoberta Menchú and thus my conscience was born (1982), which tells her story and the army’s repression against the indigenous population during the armed conflict in Guatemala (1960–1996). Menchú stated that this work transformed the perception of “the flavor of our giant, beautiful, flourishing Mayan civilization.”
Born in Chimel, into a Quiché Mayan family, Menchú received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. She has more than 20 honorary doctorates and has published books on human rights, culture of peace and children’s literature, such as El baúl de los hombres (2016) with Dante Liano.
President Bernardo Arévalo inaugurated the fair with the motto “Let’s go for a country of more readers.” During the tribute, he declared:
“Rigoberta, your life is a book that the world reads and if we didn’t have you, we would know less, but above all we would feel less.”
Arévalo also cited the Popol Vuh, the sacred Mayan text:
“It is the essential book of our culture and our identity, the grandfather book from which other books come.”
The Minister of Education, Anabella Giracca, described Menchú as “a book made of earth, a forest, a river book, a star book, a hug, a fight and fortitude.”
This is the second time that Filgua pays tribute to Menchú; In 2017 the 25th anniversary of his Nobel Prize was celebrated. In that edition, Miguel Ángel Asturias was also honored for the 50th anniversary of his Nobel Prize in Literature. The remains of Asturias, who died in Paris in 1974, will be repatriated to Guatemala at the end of the year.
The fair offers more than 800 activities and will be open from July 7 to 19.
