Island by Amilcar Cabral

Books by Amílcar Cabral

Return to the source; selected speeches 1974 / Revolution in Guinea; selected texts, 1970 / Unity and struggle : speeches and writings, 1979

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Fobanjong, John, and Thomas K. Ranuga. The Life, Thought, and Legacy of Cape Verde's Freedom Fighter Amilcar Cabral (1924-1973): Essays on His Liberation Philosophy. 2006.

McCulloch, Jock. In the Twilight of Revolution: The Political Theory of Amilcar Cabral. 1983.

Chilcote, Ronald H. Amílcar Cabral's Revolutionary Theory and Practice: A Critical Guide. 1991

Island

By Amilcar Cabral

Mother, in your perennial sleep,

You live naked and forgotten

and barren,

thrashed by the winds,

at the sound of songs without music

sung by the waters that confine us . . .

Island:

Your hills and valleys

haven’t felt the passage of time.

They remain in your dreams

- your children’s dreams –

crying out your woes

to the passing winds

and to the carefree birds flying by.

Island :

Red earth shaped like a hill that never ends

- rocky earth –

ragged cliffs blocking all horizons

while tying all our troubles to the winds!

Written in Praia. Cape Verde, 1945

More on Cabral by Cabral

Return to the source; selected speeches , 1974 / Revolution in Guinea; selected texts, 1970 / Unity and struggle : speeches and writings, 1979

* * * * *

Fobanjong, John, and Thomas K. Ranuga. The Life, Thought, and Legacy of Cape Verde's Freedom Fighter Amilcar Cabral (1924-1973): Essays on His Liberation Philosophy. 2006.

McCulloch, Jock. In the Twilight of Revolution: The Political Theory of Amilcar Cabral. 1983.

Chilcote, Ronald H. Amílcar Cabral's Revolutionary Theory and Practice: A Critical Guide. 1991.

* * * * *

updated 2 October 2007

Amilcar Cabral
Born: 1924
Died: January 20, 1973

Architect and undisputed leader and a founder of the Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) in 1956 & the national liberation movement in Guinea-Bissau.

In the early 1950s, Cabral was employed as an Agronomist. Using this position, he went to every village in the entire country and from this direct observation, he came up with an analysis and strategy for the national liberation movement.

With others, beginning in 1963 he waged a full-blown military campaign to overthrown Portuguese colonialism. Within two years they extended greatly the liberated zones where effectively they were in power.

In 1971 Cabral promoted the creation of the National People's Assembly, which was created in 1972 based on a popular vote in the liberated territories.

In January 1973, months before the PAIGC victory of the national liberation struggle, Cabral was assassinated with the help of Portuguese agents operating within the PAIGC.