Fabio Ramón Mendoza Obando

Fabio Ramón Mendoza Obando (May 11, 1971—May 6, 2022) was a Nicaraguan poet, writer, journalist, broadcaster, and political activist. He was known for his evocative poetry and incisive journalism, addressing issues of migration, political resistance, and social justice. In early 2025, his posthumous book, HUELLAS PERPETUAS DE UN INMIGRANTE, will be published by the Costa Rican publishing house H.C EDITORES. Fabio was co-author of the Anthology of the Bicentennial of Central America (Ayame Editorial, Mexico, 2021. Coord. Carlos Javier Jarquín), which included two of his poems: “Recorriendo los caminos de la libertad” and “A los poetas de la posteridad”.
==Early life and education==
Mendoza was born on May 11, 1971, in El Cacao, a rural region of Muelles de los Bueyes in Nicaragua. He was the fourth of ten children born to Ricardo José Mendoza Duarte and Yolanda Obando de Mendoza. He grew up during a turbulent political period under the Somoza dictatorship, followed by the Nicaraguan Revolution. His upbringing in a politically charged environment and his experiences as a migrant shaped his creative and activist endeavors.
Mendoza pursued his early education in Villa Sandino, Muelle de los Bueyes, and El Rama.
==Career==
===Literary works===
Mendoza was a prolific writer, poet, journalist, broadcaster, and political activist. His literary works included poetry, narratives, chronicles, and opinion articles published in national and international media. He was a columnist for several publications, including La Prensa (Nicaragua), Semanario Universidad (Costa Rica), El Sol (Colombia), and El Sol de las Américas (Dominican Republic).
Mendoza’s work was influenced by various poets and writers, including Rubén Darío, Khalil Gibran, Walt Whitman, Federico García Lorca, and Mario Vargas Llosa. His writings explored themes of migration, love, freedom, and political resistance, resonating with audiences across Nicaragua and Latin America.
His poetry collection Perpetual Traces of an Immigrant addressed the emotional and social challenges faced by migrants, drawing from his personal experience as a Nicaraguan living in Costa Rica.
On April 13, 2022 Fabio Mendoza received the invitation to be part of the anthology CANTO PLANETARIO: HERMANDAD EN LA TIERRA (H.C EDITORES, Costa Rica 2023) a two-volume book compiled by the Nicaraguan writer Carlos Javier Jarquín. But unfortunately Fabio could not send his collaboration because he passed away in the early hours of May 6, 2022.
At the time of his death, Mendoza left eight unpublished books, including four collections of poetry and three works of fiction. Among these was a novel exploring the experiences of a migrant poet, a narrative that paralleled his own life.
===Broadcasting Work===
Mendoza worked as a radio journalist, directing programs such as El Ranchito de Pocho, which gained widespread popularity in Nicaragua. Through this platform, he nurtured local talent by sharing listeners’ poems and writings, further inspiring his literary pursuits.
===Activism and Exile===
Mendoza was an outspoken critic of the Nicaraguan government under Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. In 2018, he sought refuge in Costa Rica, where he continued his advocacy for democracy and human rights through his writings.
==Death==
Mendoza passed away on May 6, 2022, at the age of 50, due to multi-organ failures from bronchopneumonia in San José, Costa Rica. 
==Awards and recognitions==
* Honorable Mention, “César Vallejo Migratory Notes” Contest, 2020
* Contribution to Bicentennial Anthology of Central America (2021)
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:1971 births
Category:Nicaraguan poets
Category:Nicaraguan writers
Category:Nicaraguan journalists
Category:Nicaraguan activists
Category:2022 deaths