A Conversation with Danny Spínola: Os Avatares das Ilhas and Mostra Cabo Verde 2008
By Paulo Gomes*
FORCV reporter
* Paulo Gomes, the new addition to FORCV team from Brockton, is a 2006 Magna Cum Laude graduated (B.A.) in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He also is deeply committed to community volunteerism and has done much work with the Youth Services Committee at the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton. He recently returned to Umass Boston to pursue his Masters of Science in Human Services. Meanwhile, as a FORCV news writer, Mr. Gomes will cover a range of topics including local news, events, and other issues related to the CV community in Brockton, the rest of Diaspora, and Cape Verde.
BOSTON - It’s about 2 a.m. in the morning of July 24, 2008 and Danny Spínola and I are hanging out at his cousin Alfredo Spencer’s basement apartment. It’s a cool space, spacious and full of woodcarvings hanging on the walls. Spencer tells me that all that work is a product of his part-time passion. He displays them proudly with Danny approvingly looking. We are sipping grogu – CV rum - and talking about Cape Verdean art and culture, something that I’ve noticed being present in just about all of our recent conversations. We are irresistibly drawn to it; especially Danny. I see in him a profound love for the culture and country he calls his own, Cape Verde. It was this that had brought me here, to interview Daniel Spínola (Danny to his friends) about his latest book, Os Avatares das Ilhas (The Avatars of the Islands), which he was releasing in Brockton that week. The artist was also taking part on the Cape Verdean Consulate sponsored exhibit Mostra Cabo Verde 2008 - Show CapeVerde 2008 -, which was held in Boston on July 26, 2008.
I am anxious to hear, what Danny has to say about his book and also, what are his impressions of Cabo-Americans he came in contact with during his latest visit to the US.
My first question to Danny is about the content and his intentions in writing the book, “Os Avatares das Ilhas”.
Danny tells me that the book is about Cape Verde and interestingly has Cape Verde as its protagonist of which, Danny portrays a fictional story of its life. Danny explains that he had the intention to tell the story of Cape Verde as a saga. The book is divided into 3 parts.
The first is titled “Ilhas Amordacadas” (Embattled Islands). In this first part, Danny takes the readers on a journey of the colonial Era in Cape Verde with special attention given to the community of the Rabelados (Rebels) of the Island of San Tiago. It speaks of the conditions of the time in Cape Verdean politics and the difficult situation between the rich landlords and the poor camponeses (peasant farmers). It also recounts the secas (droughts) and famine which often plagued the islands during those times with special attention given to the events that took place from the 1940’s onward.
The second part is titled “Ilhas Desvairadas” (Bewildered Islands). Here, Danny illustrates Cape Verde post-independence, focusing on the political atmosphere around 1975 and the economy. He also touches upon the mindset of Cape Verdeans at the time be it political, psychological, their views on corruption and the urbanization process. He delves on the sentiment between the new political elite upper class and the masses (the poor). Danny also talks about other societal ills such as drugs, alcoholism, and mental illness within the context of the time. He points out that there are stories of violence, sex, romance, and difficult life situations in this section to truly give a panoramic view of the conditions of the time.
The third part Danny gave the title, “Ilhas Ubiquas” (Ubiquitous Islands) He stated that he calls it that because it is his own utopian view of Cape Verde post-modernization. He explores what the prospects are for Cape Verde, what it may become with time. He states that it’s definitely a futuristic look ahead to Cape Verdean development. In this last section, Danny attempts to show that it doesn’t matter how old we are we can live our lives through our imagination. He states that there in lies universality about Cape Verdeans, our ability to look at Cape Verde with a sense of mysticism and mythology. He states that from there on is where the story reaches its climax; he mentions that this section, especially, relies on plenty of fiction.
Then I ask Danny if and when Cape Verdeans that do not read Portuguese can expect to find an English edition of the book.
Danny tells me that soon there will be an English edition. Currently, Carla Martin, a Ph.D. student in the Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, has expressed the intention in translating the book. Carla informs me that in about a year the translation should be complete. For now “Os Avatares das Ilhas”, is the only book, in many of Danny’s collection, which is to be translated.
Danny is a very experienced author and poet. He has written extensively both about Cape Verde and its people. The next question I ask him is if he had to write a story about his experiences with Cabo-Americans, what it would say.
Danny, smiles and proceeds to tell me that during his most recent days here in America he has felt deep empathy for the lives of Cabo-Americans and the complex situations we have faced and continue to deal with. This sentiment, he tells me, has gotten him thinking about writing a romance novel about the Cape Verdean immigration experience. As he continues to describe the story to me, I can tell that he has already given it some thought. It is amazing to me how his creative thought never wanders; it is truly remarkable. He goes on to say that the story would begin in New Bedford in a whaling ship dock. He confesses that he was mesmerized by his visit to the Whaling Museum and has learned much about Cape Verdean immigration history, there. However, he recognizes that to take on a task as complex as writing a story about the history and relationships within the Cabo-American experience would require much research which he points out would be impossible at this time, he states looking forward to it in the future if the opportunity arrives.
Always eager to share his passion for his work with others, Danny had arranged a poetry reading session in Boston on the night of the exhibit Mostra Cabo Verde 2008 (Show Cape Verde 2008). I was fortunate enough to be able to attend and experience this rare occasion. I was fascinated and entertained as was the case for everyone present, there were laughs and smiles all around the room, everyone following along every word, murmured rhythmically from Danny’s lips.
Also I ask Danny what goes through his mind and body as he is up in front of a crowd, reading one of his poems to people who may not be familiar with his writing and with this particular art form.
Danny confesses that at times he worries a bit, if there are boisterous individuals that don’t know how to behave when he is reciting a poem to a large crowd, but if there are no disturbances, nothing passes through me. He explains, it is just me and the poem, I personally cease to exist, nothing exists not even the audience, just my voice and poetry. As Danny describes it, I get the sense that for Danny reciting poetry is like an out of body experience. He goes on to tell me that, “sure there is a small sense of consciousness if there is noise, but in the moment of climax I am unconscious, I change, I am something else, I feel this way because afterwards I feel as if I have no consciousness of the moment. I give of myself in such a way, that nothing exists. I equate the feeling to that of making love. You give of yourself completely and loose yourself in the moment, nothing matters, its just you and your partner, it becomes an infinite instance in that finite moment”.
Astounded at his response, I then ask Danny if he wants to know or cares if people love his poems, if they pay attention to the wording, that they pay attention to the sentiment, his creativity, if they are able to capture or understand his creative process.
Confidently, Danny affirms that he doesn’t worry about it at all. He states being humbled when people approve of his work and offer feedback or plainly when people tell him that they enjoyed hearing him. He asserts the importance of reciting the poem well so that people will enjoy it, and also constantly working on the way in which he delivers the poem to an audience. He states that when people applaud him, he feels gratified for their acceptance and that this motivates him to continue on with his work. To Danny, it’s not a question of whether people like or dislike his poems but a question of communicating his thoughts, to others. He explains that he is interested in having friends as friends sharing poems and their stories. To him this is a convergence of friends this, Danny says, is what interests him.
It becomes obvious to me that Danny is always attentive to what is going on in the world around him, carefully taking in his environment and the interactions he has with people. So I ask him what he took away from his interactions and participation in Mostra Cabo Verde 2008.
Danny gives this question some thought, I could tell he had a lot on his mind. He responds by telling me that the event was a great initiative that should be repeated. But feels there should be some reflection as to how events such as these could better value the artists and give artists a better opportunity to show their work in better conditions. He reminds me that, it is difficult being an artist in Cape Verde, that there is no real market for the arts, be it in literature, painting or music. He goes on to say that, “It is hard for us to take on the endeavor of traveling with our work to exhibit our work without any support or sponsorship. This initiative, I believe was great for businesses and entrepreneurs and for Cape Verde in political terms because it provided the opportunity to showcase the many projects lined up and the immense progress the country has made and can stand to make with exchanges, help and support form American and Cape Verdean companies, but for artists, I believe it is necessary to reflect on how we can better participate in such events”. Danny asserts the fact that he felt great in being able to participate in the event and that he enjoyed it immensely, because his primary objective was one of sharing his work with others, not monetary gain, though he is conscious of the need, since he invested his own money to be able to take part in the event. Danny goes on to say that, he helped organize the artist delegation that came from the islands to showcase Cape Verdean artistic culture and that he felt bad because many of the artists slated to attend were not able to, due to a lack of resources and sponsorship. All the artists that participated in the event invested their own resources to come and exhibit their work. This, he reminds me, did not take away the fact that, he truly appreciated having the opportunity to share his work with the Cape Verdean community, and being satisfied for spending time in what he considers the 11th island of Cape Verde it was “extremely significant to me”.
I am left wondering and figure Danny is the best person to ask at this point whether he feels there should be anything added or changed to events such as “Mostra Cabo Verde 2008”, so as to be better able to demonstrate Cape Verdean culture in its entirety.
Danny responds by saying that it is hard to criticize all the hard work that went into producing the event. And, he denotes frankly, that he unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy the event in its entirety because of his own obligations during the event. He feels that perhaps this is something that could be added, that there be conditions created for those participating in the event so that they could also partake and enjoy the festivities.
As Danny mulls over the question, I can see he has more on his mind, so I urge him to continue as the information he offers is invaluable to the Cape Verdean community in America. He nods and states, “ I can only make this recommendation, that you try to bring Cape Verde to America and send back to Cape Verde a piece of the Cabo-American experience. This exchange, (Junta mon) should give people the experience of what is on the other side. It should not be a fleeting passage of something that took place in one day, it happened and then everyone forgets what took place. I think it should be made to attract more of the Cabo-American population, I think maybe only 1/3 was able to enjoy the event. This event should be one that serves all people and a motivation to others so that it may bring more knowledge and value to communities. It should not be something where people do it just to do it so you can say you put on a great event for Cape Verdeans, not to take away form the wonderful work that was done, but also to stop and think how we can take it to the next level and help people feel a connection to their communities and Cape Verde and vice-versa, so that the Cape Verdean spirit may be felt without borders.
We need to talk about what happened what was accomplished here. I think one day may not be enough, perhaps a week-long convention so that more people from all communities could have a chance to take part and enrich the cultural experience. All the work we do is for the Cape Verdean community and if they can’t attend, it becomes fruitless.
I can’t help but be grateful for the suggestions Danny offers. I can feel the energy radiate from him as he speaks of the possibilities and hopes for future events like these. His enthusiasm is inspiring to me and has made me a believer in thinking we as a community can come together to make his suggestions possible. I can see in his eyes that he offers them as a challenge to me, to us Cabo-Americans, to make a great event even better.
We pause for a moment as we take in our own fantasies of what that would be like. I smile; he smiles back while adjusting his glasses.
I last ask Danny what the future holds for him.
It’s hard for him to say. He mumbles to himself, “What does the future hold for me”? “I’m working on a book and DVD about the evolution of Cape Verdean painters and their art. I’m writing”, he says, “a romance novel, its in its final stages that will soon be released. I also have another book of poetry that is practically done”. As Danny runs down the list of prospects, I can’t help but be proud of him and of hearing his experiences. It is a rare treat that we get such a talented poet and author in our midst.
I’m in the final part of his book “Os Avatares das Ilhas” as I read the story I am simply awestruck by his ability to tell a story, I have read many books but never one written in such a way. For me it’s a mix of Chinua Achebe, Maya Anjelou and Langston Hughes for his ability to tell a story, poetically and with incredible foresight. I once asked him if he considers himself an emissary of Cape Verdean culture, he responded quickly, “No, I just love my country and my culture”.
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