Orlando Tejo

Origin

Campina Grande, PB

Genres

poetry, cordel literature, essay

Biography

Orlando Tejo was born in Campina Grande in 1935, standing out throughout his journey as a relevant Brazilian journalist, essayist, and poet. Throughout his career in the press, he collaborated with major outlets such as Diário da Borborema, Jornal do Commercio, Diário de Pernambuco, and Correio Braziliense, having faced the censorship imposed by AI-5 due to his political stances.

His most striking contribution to Northeastern literature and culture was the work "Zé Limeira, o poeta do absurdo", considered a true masterpiece. The book exerted a profound influence on several generations, inspiring political and musical figures such as José Sarney, Zé Ramalho, Oswaldo Montenegro, and Siba Veloso, besides being pointed out by poet Jessier Quirino as a landmark in the region's cultural awakening.

He passed away in Recife on July 1, 2018, at the age of 83, due to pulmonary complications. His cultural relevance was immortalized not only by his books, but also by audiovisual productions about him, such as the documentary "O Homem que viu Zé Limeira", released by TV Senado in 2013.