Taiwanese Hakka poet Tseng Kuei-hai (曾貴海) won the International Poet Award at the 15th Guayaquil International Poetry Festival Ileana Espinel Cedeño in Ecuador. This is the first time the award has been presented to an Asian poet. Tseng's works were translated into Spanish and English thanks to the project launched by the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) for translation and overseas promotion of Hakka literature.
The director of the Guayaquil International Poetry Festival Augusto Rodríguez mentioned that it is an honor for the Festival to present the award to the heavyweight. Rodríguez complimented Tseng as a great poet, a significant figure, and the leader of Taiwan’s democratic movement. He is glad Tseng’s poetry can be published in Ecuador.
In HAC’s press release, Tseng stated that he has been writing for over 50 years, accumulated works of 500 poems, prose, and lyrics. Tseng said his creations come from the history and culture of his motherland as well as his life experiences, adding that it is a great encouragement for him to receive the recognition from the country in Latin America.
Having known Tseng for a long time, Culture Minister Lee Yung-te (李永得) said that Tseng is not only a Hakka poet but also a Taiwanese writer, and most importantly, Tseng is the pride of Taiwan. Lee added that Tseng is dedicated to all things related to his homeland and has set a milestone for Taiwanese literature. The Ministry of Culture will request more budget for translating Taiwanese literary works into other languages for the world to know more about the island.
Growing up in Jiadong Township of Pingtung County, Tseng is a doctor, a poet, and an activist. In recent years, Tseng has gone international. He was interviewed by a Bolivian radio station this March and read his Hakka poems at an online Mexican poetry reading event this November.