According to the program released by the Amílcar Cabral Foundation, the activities include debates, conferences, book and stamp launches, fairs, exhibitions, sports, cinema, marches, and musical concerts.
The celebrations began on Sunday with the publication in Senegal of the collective work “Amílcar Cabral: 50 ans aprés” – 1st volume, and will continue with the 12th Meeting of Portuguese Language Writers, which begins on Thursday in Praia, honoring the father of Cape Verdean and Guinean nationalities.
The writers’ meeting is organized by the Praia City Council and the Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities (UCCLA), and also honors the poet Luís de Camões.
In Cape Verde, other activities will take place, notably the international symposium on September 9 and 10 at Uni-CV in Praia, featuring presentations by more than 50 researchers dedicated to studying Cabral’s life and work.
The event will also be held in Guinea-Bissau on September 11 and 12, with online transmission, which is the only activity in the program in Cabral’s country of birth.
On the centenary day, September 12, at 9:00 AM local time (11:00 AM in Lisbon), the President of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, will lay a wreath at the memorial and unveil a commemorative plaque for the 100th anniversary of Amílcar Cabral’s birth.
On the same day at 6:00 PM local time, stamps commemorating the centenary will be launched in a joint issue by the postal services of Cape Verde and Portugal.
Also in Praia, one of the highlights will be a grand “concert for Cabral” on September 14, with free admission, in the square bearing his name in Várzea, featuring performances by Manú Reis, Cabo Verde Show, Karyna Gomes, Princezito, Jonathan, Hélio Batalha, Gá DaLomba, Amílcar Semedo, and Cjey Patronato.
From September 11 to 21, a fair will be held in Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, in Plateau, the historic center of the Cape Verdean capital, featuring an exhibition of 40 panels on Cabral’s life and work, paintings, handicraft sales, merchandising, discussions, and a stage with concerts by younger Cape Verdean musicians.
Also on the Cape Verdean island of Santiago, there will be a concert for peace in Tarrafal.
The islands of Santo Antão, São Vicente, Sal, and Boa Vista will also honor Cabral.
The first activity in Portugal takes place on Wednesday in Coimbra, an initiative by Escola da Noite and Cena Lusófona, in partnership with more than a dozen institutions from the city and country, including books, music, documentaries, workshops, theater, debates, and exhibitions.
Amílcar Cabral will also “be present” on Saturday, September 7, at the Avante Festival in Lisbon.
On September 12, the first meeting of Guinean writers and artists will take place at Torre do Tombo, along with the launch of the book “Letters from Amílcar Cabral to Ana Maria: between you and me there was love.”
On September 13, Theatro Circo in Braga will host the Paradise cycle, featuring artists from various artistic areas – from literature to contemporary dance, from music to performance, providing shows and conversations on themes related to the history of the black movement in Portugal, the life and work of Amílcar Cabral, and innovation and tradition in Lusophone music.
Throughout September, initiatives will take place in Angola, the United States, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, with programming available on the Foundation’s official pages.
Amílcar Cabral was born on September 12, 1924, in Bafatá, in what was then Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau), and was assassinated on January 20, 1973, in Conakry, Guinea.
The centenary celebrations have been marked by various academic, cultural, political, sporting, and social events in various parts of the world.
