PEN International launches Lenguas Vivas: A landmark project celebrating Indigenous languages and literary voices
“Lenguas Vivas is more than an anthology — it is a testament to the resilience of Indigenous languages and the writers who carry them forward. This project reminds us why protecting linguistic rights matters: each poem is a living voice, a lineage, and a vision of a more just and inclusive future.” Burhan Sonmez, PEN International President
2 December 2025: PEN International is proud to announce the launch of Lenguas Vivas, a project showcasing the breadth, strength, and vitality of Indigenous literary expression across Latin America. As part of this, a regional anthology will be unveiled today at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the most important publishing gathering in Ibero-America.
Curated and edited by Miguel Ángel Oxlaj Cúmez (Maya Kaqchikel poet, writer, translator, and literary organiser), the anthology Lenguas Vivas features twenty-six authors from five countries—Mexico (Chiapas), Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Guatemala. It is a multilingual collection of poetry presented in both the original Indigenous language and in Spanish, self-translated by the writers to preserve linguistic nuance and cultural meaning.
The anthology stands as a powerful reminder of the vibrancy of Indigenous languages today and the importance of safeguarding linguistic rights as part of the broader defence of freedom of expression.
A project rooted in linguistic rights, literary freedom, and regional collaboration
Lenguas Vivas project seeks to elevate Indigenous voices, foster public dialogue on inequality, and strengthen regional advocacy for linguistic rights. Working closely with PEN Centres across the region — and in collaboration with Indigenous writers— it champions inclusive approaches to literary creation and cultural expression.
Through this initiative, PEN International aims to highlight issues of inequality and amplify the perspectives of communities whose voices remain marginalised within mainstream cultural spaces.
The project strengthens the institutional capacity of PEN Centres in the region and deepens their engagement with Indigenous writers. It also underscores the essential role of literature in responding to social challenges — from environmental vulnerability and access to justice to the persistent invisibility of Indigenous languages in public life.
Lenguas Vivas has been supported by the Hawthornden Foundation and is presented today at FIL Guadalajara, with Barcelona as the Guest City of Honour.
PEN International at FIL 2025
PEN International will participate in several public events, including:
Monday, 1 December — 18:00–18:50
Raúl Aceves Prize 2025 – PEN Guadalajara
Presenters: Arturo Camacho and Lyz Sáenz
Salón A, International Area, Expo Guadalajara
Tuesday, 2 December — 16:00–16:50
The Right to Language – Presentation of Lenguas Vivas
Participants: Bel Olid, Lourdes Toledo, Santusa Calizaya, Miguel Oxlaj, and Lyz Sáenz
Welcome: Laura Huerga, President of Catalan PEN
Salón 1, Ground Floor, Expo Guadalajara | Barcelona Pavilion, Expo Guadalajara
Note to Editors
For more information, please contact Alicia Quiñones, Head of the Americas Region, PEN International: [email protected]
For media queries, please contact Sabrina Tucci, Head of Communications and Campaigns, PEN International: [email protected]