Luanda – President João Lourenço on Saturday paid tribute to journalist Ismael Mateus, who died early on Tuesday as a result of a road accident in the country's capital.
At the Army Command in Luanda, where the remains were laid, the Angolan Head of State, accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, laid a wreath next to the urn and offered condolences to the bereaved family.
In the book of condolences, João Lourenço highlighted the figure of the former member of the Council of the Republic, pointing out that as a journalist, broadcaster and writer of great renown, Angola has lost an intellectual who, in his intervention in public life, knew how to combine a high critical sense with civic-mindedness and respect for democratic institutions.
For the President, this responsible attitude is an example for the younger generations who saw him as a teacher and role model.
“With a legion of followers and admirers also as a fiction writer, the premature death of citizen Ismael Mateus impoverishes our journalism and our culture,” reads the book of condolences signed by President João Lourenço.
The country’s Vice-President, Esperança da Costa, members and representatives of other sovereign bodies, friends, family and colleagues also paid tribute to the late journalist.
During the ceremony messages were read out from various state bodies, associations, the defense and security agencies and the media, in which the qualities and professional commitment of the deceased were praised.
A journalist since 1981, Ismael Mateus was born in Luanda on July 6, 1964. He was a member of the Angolan Journalists' Union (SJA) and the Angolan Writers' Union.
He started in 1985, publishing opinion pieces, initially at Angola National Radio, under titles such as “Bué de Bocas” and on Rádio Luanda Antena Comercial (LAC), where he wrote “Recados para o Meu Chefe”.
Later, he published opinion pieces in the Angolense and Cruzeiro do Sul newspapers.
He published his first book in 1992, the collection of radio texts “Bué de Bocas”. He also published the book “Ascensão e Queda, de Bartolas Matias”. He was the coordinator of the collection of texts “Angola, a Festa e o Luto”, launched on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of national independence in 2000.
In 2001, he published his first novel with the title “Os tempos de Yakalay” (The Times of Yakalay 2003) and the book “Sobras de Guerra” (War Leftovers).
His remains will be buried at the Santana cemetery in Luanda.AFL/ART/MRA/AMP
