With a ceremonial academy held last night in Prijedor, the Literary Meetings on Kozara were officially opened, and poet Boro Kapetanović was presented with the lifetime achievement award “Skender Kulenović – Literary Wreath of Kozara.”
The president of the jury of the 53rd Literary Meetings on Kozara, Goran Maksimović, stated that the jury unanimously decided to award the prize to Boro Kapetanović.
He emphasized that Kapetanović is one of the most prominent contemporary Serb poets, who has been writing and publishing for 55 years.
“A poet who creates from the soul, from pure life—his poetry is a treasury of everything that lies deep within us, but also in the world around us. His poetry can be read as a chronicle of his private life, but also as a chronicle of our time, showing how these 55 years have been,” said Maksimović.
Other jury members were Duško Pevulja and Andrea Marić.
Kapetanović told reporters that he was surprised by the award and that it is a great honor for any writer to receive it.
“I am pleased to join the ranks of great Serb writers. All of us who grew up with Kozara have a special connection to this mountain, to the award, and to the people who present it,” said Kapetanović.
At the Prijedor Theatre, he was also presented with the “Ljubija Miner” award, along with the monetary prize.
Participants of the literary evening, in addition to the laureate, included prominent poets from Serbia and Republika Srpska: Milovan Marčetić, Enes Halilović, Željka Avrić, Nevena Vitošević, Spasoje Joksimović, Aleksandra Čvorović, Predrag Bjelošević, and Valentina Milačić.
The program featured Biljana Đurović and Mirela Predojević, with musical accompaniment by Milica Milović.
The meetings continued today with a grand poetry hour at the monument on Mrakovica and will conclude tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the “Sreten Stojanović” Gallery in Prijedor with the event “Evening of the Laureate – Boro Kapetanović.”
The organizer and general sponsor of the 53rd Literary Meetings on Kozara is the city of Prijedor, with co-organizers Banja Luka, Gradiška, and Laktaši, as well as the municipalities of Srbac, Kostajnica, Novi Grad, and Kozarska Dubica.
Source: RTRS
