The Second Festival of Native Literature ended with the ceremonial presentation of prizes to the winners of the literary contest of the Matica Hrvatska Branch in Split. It was a real ode to the homeland and an expression of love for our homeland and our roots. The ceremony was held in the Marko Marulić City Library in Split.
Eight authors were awarded for poems and prose dedicated to their homeland, which resulted in three books - two collections of poetry and a collection of poems and prose. Nikša Krpetić won the prize for the sonnet wreath entitled "Friday, pain and the cross", who also won the prize last year with the poem "Svitlo", so he can boast that he has become a double winner. His book was enriched with illustrations by academic painter Josip Botteri Dini, former president of MH Split, who this year organized a retrospective exhibition of his works in Klović's palaces in Zagreb, Split and Bol. Krpetić is also known as the author of the now iconic song "Gospe ribara, tječa", and he has also published several collections of poems.
MH member and writer Anđelka Korčulanić, whose collection of poems "In the footsteps of Bela Spalatina" was published, was also awarded.
Poems and prose by six authors were included in the collection of works under the title "Tili smo te obuvatit". Prizes were awarded to Renata Dobrić from Kaštela for the short story "Our Lady in the Cold, Come to My Help", Dora Mihanović from Split with a Zadar address for "March of the Funeral for an Artist", dedicated to Josip Genda, Rina Repanić Gotal from Vis for "Selected Poems", 20 -year-old student from Split Josip Škrapić for the poem "Cry of the village", professor Ivica Šušić originally from Zagvozd for the lament "Elegy for Stapin dub" and Mladen Vuković for the drama "Marul in Love", written, as he said, with the help of artificial intelligence on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Marulić's death. Dobrić and Repanić Gotal also won awards for their works at the First Festival in 2023, and Ms. Rina delivered her lines at the local Vis speech so emotionally that no actor could surpass her.
The prizes were presented to the winners by the president of the Matica Hrvatska branch in Split, Snježana Šetka, with the vice-president of Matica Hrvatska, Damir Zorić, and the vice-president of OMH in Split, Miro Radalj, joined them in awarding the awards for the joint collection. It was a pleasure to listen to the verses of the winners and the choir of HRM Sveti Juraj, who graced the award ceremony at the Second Festival of Native Literature, organized by the Split branch of Matica Hrvatska.
The festival brought together all generations and numerous guests, among whom was the representative of the Croatian Vice President Ivan Anušić - Mrs. Ljiljana Šego.
The award-winning authors were congratulated by Snježana Šetka, president of the Matica Hrvatska Branch in Split, emphasizing the importance of preserving Croatian identity and heritage.
She reminded that the Festival was started two years ago under the auspices of the Split-Dalmatia County, in cooperation with the Literary Circle and the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Split.
"Last year, we celebrated in the wonderful surroundings of the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments (MHAS) in Split (which is currently being renovated), which also houses the stone baptismal font of the Croatian prince Višeslav from the 9th century, which our neighbors from the East own these days. The same ones who had already reached for Croatian territory before, so the victorious Croatian army in the Homeland War showed them where they belong. As one of the most recognizable national and religious symbols, Višeslav's baptistery is a monument of Croatian culture and history from the early Middle Ages, and a cross with Croatian braid is carved on it. It arrived in Croatia only during the NDH era in 1942 and is now kept in Split. Today we celebrate in the City Library, which bears the name of our resident of Split and European humanist Marko Marulić, so our neighbors can again say that this space is also theirs because it once served the army (known as the JNA) that attacked Croatia. Enough of these encroachments on our territory,
our literature, our culture and heritage", said Šetka.
And because of Marulić's year, they paid special attention to Marko Marulić in the competition this year. "It was a great pleasure to choose among the works of authors of all generations, and I was especially delighted by a young man who, at the age of 20, writes as if he were in his mature years.Šetka said. She has already announced that in 2025 the competition will be dedicated to Croatian rulers, and on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom.
"The aim of the event is to encourage and promote the quality literary creativity of native Croatian writers, nurture the Štokavian and Chakavian dialects, affirm native writers and their works, and enrich Croatian written heritage", Šetka said.
The festival also has the support of the Central Matica Hrvatska, which sent two of its representatives - Vice President Damir Zorić and Economic Secretary Ivica Nuić.
"Native literature is not less valuable than "world" literature; literary themes. It cannot be written without love for one's native land, and if one loves one's homeland, one loves the whole worldZoric said. And asked: "What are Slobodan Novak's Fragrances, Gold and Incense if not native literature. Isn't Alkar Dinko Šimunović and many others like that tooZorić concluded and congratulated all the winners of the Festival. And then, as a convinced Dynamo player, with a smile, he wished Hajduk to finally win the title of Croatian football champion this season!
As a sponsor of the event that brings together registrars and native authors wherever they are, the Split-Dalmatia prefect Blaženko Boban also expressed his support for the Festival and native literature, saying that he himself always likes to read something about his homeland, no matter how small the news, it is a joy in us.
"The county will continue to support events like this that preserve our Croatian identity and heritage, which our head of culture Željko Primorac and his colleagues are working on persistently.", concluded prefect Boban.
The beautiful event was enhanced by the performance of Klapa HRM Sveti Juraj.
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