Amílcar Cabral was at the center of the National Heroes' Day celebrations, celebrated yesterday, January 20, in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. José Maria Neves, the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, laid a wreath of white flowers in front of the Amílcar Cabral Monument in Praia.

In turn, Umaro Cissoco Embaló, the President of Guinea-Bissau, was at the Amura Fortress, in Bissau, where the Mausoleum of Amílcar Cabral is located, to pay tribute to him.

During the celebrations, José Maria Neves warned of the emergence of groups that promote “chaos and polarization"in the country, favoring extremism and populism and called for serenity and dialogue as essential pillars for building a country"united and prosperous".

He also highlighted that January 20th is a date to pay tribute to Amílcar Cabral and all national heroes, figures who marked decisive moments in the country's history and who should be remembered as “a source of inspiration for future generations”. Also in Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Cissoco Embaló referred to the country's independence leader as a worthy son of Africa, Guinea and Cape Verde.

Among the interviews conducted with several citizens that day, Eddy Kendel's words stand out. He argued that there should be more activities to commemorate January 20th to facilitate knowledge of Cape Verde's cultural and historical history, particularly for children. Maria Semedo, meanwhile, considered January 20th a day of celebration to celebrate and honor national heroes.

“Today we have a free and democratic country, thanks to Amílcar Cabral and all the other fighters.”

Among the activities that marked the day, it was worth highlighting, in the city of Mindelo, the presentation of the book “Manecas Santos: A Biography of the Struggle”, by Rosário Luz.

According to the book's publisher, the work chronicles the history of the independence struggles of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, delving into the social realities of the two former Portuguese colonies. It also explores the political motivations of PAIGC fighters.

According to the publisher, the book shows “the particularities” by the fighter for the Freedom of the Fatherland, Manecas Santos “as an individual and participant in the revolutionary processand highlights him "as a unique figure in the events in which he was involved." The book was also launched in Praia, Cape Verde, and Lisbon, Portugal.

And precisely in the Portuguese capital, the play "Amílcar Geração" ran from January 17th to 20th at the Chapitô theater, featuring a monologue by actor Ângelo Torres, in homage to Amílcar Cabral. The monologue, commemorating the date of Cabral's death, was written by Guilherme Mendonça.

Ângelo Torres said that the play arouses people's curiosity and interest in finding out who Amílcar Cabral was, a figure of universal stature, but not always duly recognized among his compatriots.

Santomean, born in Equatorial Guinea, precisely on the day Cabral was assassinated, Ângelo Torres considers that “they did not kill a man, but a cause, an ideal and a purpose”. For him, Amílcar Cabral was a pacifist who was forced to take up arms, after many attempts at negotiation, because his purpose “it was so big that it was bigger than him".

Director and author, Guilherme Mendonça, has dedicated himself in recent years to the history of African nationalisms and the play, “Amilcar Generation”, appears as a continuation of this work. We recall that 2024 marked the centenary of the birth of Amílcar Cabral, who was born in the Guinean city of Bafatá, to Cape Verdean parents, on September 12, 1924.

A 7-inch vinyl record titled "Legadu: Liberdadi" was also released in Cape Verde in memory of Humbertona and Djunga de Biluca, featuring Amílcar Cabral's thoughts on the connection between liberation and culture. The initiative was created by Paulo Lobo Linhares of the music production company InSulada, in partnership with MatosMusic Production.

The struggle for liberation is an act of culture, said Amílcar Cabral, whose birth centenary the world celebrated in 2024. And because liberation and culture were inseparable for him, he encouraged people to fight for independence in various ways, including promoting culture.

This was, in fact, what he advised João Silva, known as Djunga de Biluca, a pioneer of Cape Verdean emigration to the Netherlands, composer, producer, and publisher who eventually founded "Morabeza Records" to promote Cape Verdean and African music. Djunga passed away in April 2023, the same year that the excellent guitarist Humberto Bettencourt Santos (Humbertona) also passed away.

Both are now being honored with a vinyl record, "Legadu:Liberdadi." Vinyl, which seemed to have been completely supplanted by CDs, is making a strong comeback, which is why Paulo Lobo Linhares believes that "Legadu:Liberdade" is intended not only for Cape Verdeans, but also for collectors from other parts of the world.

National Heroes' Day celebrations in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau are moments of profound significance, not only to remember the legacy of Amílcar Cabral and other freedom fighters, but also to reinforce the sense of identity, history, and culture of both countries.

The presentation of the book about Manecas Santos, the release of the vinyl record "Legadu: Liberdadi," and the play "Amílcar Geração" illustrate how the memory of the struggle for independence can be kept alive through culture, literature, and art. These honor the past and motivate young people to preserve and value the historical and cultural heritage of both nations.

Therefore, it is crucial that moments like January 20th serve to educate, inspire and strengthen the patriotic spirit, keeping Amílcar Cabral's message alive:

“National liberation is necessarily an act of culture.”