Title: Amilcar Cabral : outstanding leader of African liberation movement - A tribute

Source: Humbul Humanities Hub, University of Oxford
http://www.humbul.ac.uk/output/full5.php?id=7955&sub=african&ref=byheading&code=DB.63

Time Period: 1900 - 1945 CE | 1946 - present

Responsibility: Designer : Unwembi Communications

Coverage -- Start/End Date : 1924 / 1973


Abstract: The content of this Web page is based on an article published in the African Communist in 1973, shortly after the death of the revolutionary African leader, Amilcar Cabral (1924-1973). Born in Guinea, Cabral was one of the founders of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, which mobilised the struggle against Portuguese colonial rule. A man of action, Cabral nonetheless developed a strong ideological and philosophical framework for revolution. He had a close affiliation with communist principles, and acknowledged the support of the Soviet Union in the fight for independence in African countries. Even after his death he became a major role model and inspiration for oppressed people throughout Africa, in their struggle for national liberation. His name is well-known by all contemporary African leaders.



"How is it that we, a people deprived of everything, living in dire straits, manage to wage our struggle and win successes? Our answer is: this is because Lenin existed, because he fulfilled his duty as a man, a revolutionary and a patriot. Lenin was and continues to be, the greatest champion of the national liberation of the peoples."

These were the words addressed to the delegates attending the seminar on "Lenin and National Liberation" held at Alma Ata, capital of Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan, in 1970 by Amilcar Cabral, Secretary-General of the PAIGC, who met his death on 20th January 1973 at Conakry, Guinea, at the hands of a traitor, Innocenta Canida, an agent of the Portuguese colonialists who had infiltrated into the ranks of the movement three years ago.

These words reflect the revolutionary thinking and life-work of this utterly dedicated patriot, outstanding African revolutionary of our time and the father of the new independent sovereign State of Guinea in the process of birth. It was the cognition of the scientific theory of revolution, of Marxism-Leninism, to which he was introduced by his contacts with the Portuguese Communist Party during his student days in Lisbon which was to combine within him, in the words of the statement of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party, "a deep understanding of the processes of the African revolution with an untiring devotion to practical struggle."

Ideological base

Whilst eschewing dogma, he continually stressed the need for a firm political and ideological base for a revolutionary: "If it is true that a revolution can fail even though it is based on perfectly conceived theories -- nobody has yet made a successful revolution without a revolutionary theory."

Cabral was above all a man of action. Born on September 12, 1924, at Bafata in what was then the Portuguese West African colony of Guinea, he spent part of his youth in Bissau, the capital. He was able because of his family`s relatively comfortable position, to go to secondary school and then to the University of Lisbon, where he qualified as an agricultural engineer in 1951. Returning to his country he served for two years in the colonial administration as an agronomist which provided him with ample opportunity to learn at first hand of the dire poverty and intense suffering of his people, especially in the countryside. His experiences made him more determined than ever to find ways and means of working for the freedom of his country and delivering his people from the yoke of colonial bondage. This inevitably led him into bitter conflicts with the governor of the colony and he transferred himself to Angola.

There in 1956 he helped to form what is now the most important national organisation of Angola, the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola). In the same year he also became one of the founders of the African Party of Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and was its leader until the time of his assassination.

Under his leadership the PAIGC mobilised the country's patriots to struggle for the freedom of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands, created the people's army and led the national-liberation war against the Portuguese colonialists. Cabral knew and understood his enemy well, and every phase of the struggle was carefully planned and action meticulously organised. The cadres of the PAIGC were given political education as well as military training and he stressed always "that we are armed militants and not militarists."

The race question

Cabral saw the task of the national liberation movements as not merely to usher in Black rule replacing white faces with black ones; it was not only to raise a different flag and sing a new anthem but to remove all forms of exploitation from the country. "Bearing in mind the essential characteristics of the present world economy, as well as experience already gained in the field of anti-imperialist struggle, the principal aspect of national liberation struggle is the struggle against neo-colonialism." Cabral was careful to distinguish the colour of men's skins from exploitation and repeatedly emphasised that the struggle was against Portuguese colonialism and not against the Portuguese people. He made it clear that:


"We are fighting so that insults may no longer rule our countries, martyred and scorned for centuries, so that our peoples may never more be exploited by imperialists not only by people with white skin, because we do not confuse exploitation or exploiters with the colour of men's skins; we do not want any exploitation in our countries, not even by black people."

Though the focus of Cabral`s activity was always the struggle against Portuguese colonialism, he was an internationalist and saw his people's struggle as merely one front of a common international struggle against imperialism which "is trying simultaneously to dominate the working class in all advanced countries and smother the national liberation movements in all the under-developed countries."

Socialist allies

The historic role which the socialist community, as an integral and powerful part of the world anti-imperialist front, is playing for peace, independence and socialism was clearly understood and recognised by Cabral. At a conference held in Dar-es-Salaam in 1965, Cabral had said:


"It is our duty to state here, loud and clear, that we have firm allies in the socialist countries ... Since the socialist revolution and the events of the Second World War, the face of the world has definitely changed. A socialist camp has arisen in the world. This has radically changed the balance of power, and this socialist camp is today showing itself fully conscious of its duties, international and historic, but not moral, since the peoples of the socialist countries have never exploited the colonised peoples."

He had very close association with the Soviet Union which he visited on many occasions and made a major contribution to the promotion and strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Guinea-Bissau and the Soviet Union, between the PAIGC and the CPSU. Speaking as the head of the PAIGC delegation at the Joint Meeting in the Kremlin dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the USSR, Cabral said:


"Availing ourselves of this opportunity we want to express on behalf of our people fraternal gratitude to the Soviet people, the CPSU, its Central Committee for the versatile assistance you render us in our bitter struggle against the Portuguese colonialists, against the war and genocide, for independence, peace and progress of our African Motherland."

The assassin's bullets struck down this great African leader just as preparations were going ahead for the convening of the National Assembly in the early part of this year for the adoption of the Constitution and the official declaration of the new independent sovereign State of Guinea. This foul deed was engineered by the Portuguese colonialists with the nefarious aim of sowing confusion and disruption among the ranks of the PAIGC and of causing disunity among the national liberation movements of Southern Africa.

It shows that the evil triumvirate of Caetano, Smith and Vorster will stop at nothing to stem the irresistible advances of the courageous and steeled guerrillas and brave freedom fighters of Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa in their noble struggle to free the whole of southern Africa from national, racial and social oppression.

In our own country, South Africa, Vorster faces the ever growing tide of indignation and resistance of the Black masses against apartheid tyranny and especially of the bulk of the Black working people against the whole of the inhuman cheap-labour system and starvation wages.

In spite of the use of the deadly modern weapons of war, terror and devious manoeuvres, the colonialist and racialist regimes are doomed. The new State of Guinea shall be a reality, the whole of southern Africa shall be freed.

However, the struggles ahead call for, on our part, ever stronger unity and organisation of masses, ever greater vigilance against the manoeuvres and machinations of the enemy, ever more determination and will to sacrifice in our efforts to exterminate the forces of oppression and win final victory.

By the death of Amilcar Cabral, Africa has lost one of her great revolutionary leaders. We, the fighting black people and all the revolutionaries of South Africa, salute this indomitable fighter. We shall see to it that the cause - which is also our cause - to which Amilcar Cabral devoted all his energies and ultimately gave his life, will triumph.
AMANDLA!
RONA KE MAATLA!
MAYIBUYE AFRIKA!

Amílcar Lopes Cabral was born the 12 of September of 1924 in Bafatá, Guiné of parents cable-verdeanos, and died assassinated in Conacri, the 20 of January of 1973.
We publish the text of a curriculum vitae elaborated in 1960 with written by hand corrections of proper and Mário the Young chicken of AndradeFor information more detailed e, appointedly, on its activity anticolonialist and founding politics of the PAIGC,we advise the consultation of excerpts of the text ofMário Young chicken of Andrade" Amílcar Cabral - biography essay politics "

CURRICULUM VITAE of Amílcar Cabral, in 1960

* Name: Amílcar Lopes Cabral
* Parents: Juvenal Cabral and Iva Pinhel Évora
* Naturalness: Bafatá (Portuguese Guiné)
* Date of birth: 12.set.1924
* Civil state: married* Children: 1 son, of 7 years
* Profession: Engineer Agronomist

Studies

* Secondary education, with distinction, 2 secondary school of the Beach, Green Cable, 1944
* Licenciatura, Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, 1950
* Periods of training of Engineering Agronomist and Engineering colonial Agronomist, 1950/1951
* Scholarship for the University, attributed for the 2 secondary school of Green Cable
* Scholarship for the period of training of Engineer Agronomist, attributed for the Mission of the Students of Overseas

Conferences and Congresses

* Arachide-Mils Conference (Bambey, Senegal, Set.1954)
* XXIII Congress Luso-Espanhol for the Progress of Sciences (Coimbra, Portugal, JUN.1956)
* XXIV Congress Luso-Espanhol for the Progress of Sciences (Madrid, Spain, 1958)

Public offices

* Member (trainee) of the Brigade of Ground of Santarém, Station National Agronómica, 1950/1951
* Engineer agronomist contracted for the Provincial Distribution of the Agricultura works and Forest of the Portuguese Guiné, 1953/1954
* I gather of the Head of the Provincial Distribution of the Agricultura works and Forest of the Portuguese Guiné, 1953/1954
* Director of the Experimental Agricultural Rank of Pessubé (Bissau, Portuguese Guiné), 1953/1955
* Temporary head of the Provincial Distribution of the Agricultura works and Forest of the Portuguese Guiné, 1954 and 1955
* Inspector of the General Commerce of the Guiné (for substitution), 1954 and 1955
* Responsible per the planning and execution of the Agricultural Census of the Portuguese Guiné, 1953
* Commission agent of the Portuguese Government to the Arachide-Mils Conference (Bambey, Senegal), 1954
* Member of the Executive Comité of the Center of Studies of the Portuguese Guiné, 1954/1955
* Extraordinary collaborator (Investigating) of the Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, Lisbon, 1956/1960
* Extraordinary collaborator (Investigating) of the General Direcção of the Agricultura works, Lisbon, 1958/1960
* Head of Section of the Brigade of Studies of Fitossanitária Defense (Together of Inquiry of Overseas), 1957/1960
* Head of Section of the Laboratory of the Fitossanitária Defense of the Stored Products (general Direcção of the Agricultura works), 1958/1960
* Responsible for the elaboration of a Plan of the Fitossanitária Defense of the Seed of the Rice in the Portuguese Guiné, 1959
* Responsible for the elaboration of a Plan of Study of the Fitossanitária Defense of the Peanut in the Portuguese Guiné, 1959

Other functions

* Collaborator of Professor J.v. Botelho of the Coast, the chair of Pedologia and Conservação of the Ground, the Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, for the referring studies to ground of Angola, 1955/1960
* Permanent collaborator of Professor Ario L. Azevedo, of the chair of Tropical Agriculture, the Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, for the referring studies to the technology of the ground nalgumas regions of Angola, 1955/1960
* Permanent assistant of Professor C.m. Baeta Snows, the chair of Agricultural Entomologia, the Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, for the referring studies to the fitossanitária defense of the agricultural products in Portugal and Overseas, 1956/1960
* Organizador and Director of the Brigade of Agrológicos Studies of the Agricultural Society of Cassequel, Angola, 1955/1956
* Organizador and Director of the Brigade of Agrológicos Studies of the Company of Sugar of Angola, 1956/1957
* Responsible of the Agrológico Study of the Plantations of Caféeiros of the Company Angolana de Agricultura, Amboim, Angola, 1958
* Responsible of the Preliminary Study of Ground of the Longa-Nhia Farm, Company Angolana de Agricultura, 1958
* Organizador and Director of the Brigade of Agrológicos Studies of the Company Angolana de Agricultura, 1959
* Director of the Cabinet of Studies Agronómicos, Lisbon (organism created by the Engineers Agrónomos and Silvicultores, to the job of Agriculture and Forestry in Portugal and the territories of Overseas), 1958/1960
* He puts in charge Feasibility study to it of the industrial culture of the sugar beetroot in Portugal, for Mercantile Warehouse Lda., Lisbon, 1959
* Responsible for the Mission of referring Study to the culture and industrialization of the sugar beetroot in the Europe, 1959* Effective member of the Society of Sciences Agronómicas, Lisbon, 1955/1960.

Inquiry and experimentation

* Ground - Characteristic physics, use and conservation
* Tropical agriculture - Practical of culture, fertilização and adaptation of cultures
* Fitossanitária defense - Microclimates, conditions of storage, physical features of the products and development of the plagues

Published works

* The problem of the Erosion of the Ground. Contribution for its study in the region of Cuba (Alentejo), Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, 1951
* The concept of Erosion, Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, 1951
* Informative bulletins of the Agricultural Rank of Pessubé (Bissau), nºs. 1 the 5, Agricultura works and Forest of the Guiné, 1953/1954
* On the rosette, Echoes of the Guiné, 1953
* On mechanization in Agriculture, Echoes of the Guiné, 1953
* Jutes and its sucedâneos in the Guiné, Echoes of the Guiné, 1953
* For the knowledge of the problem of the Erosion of the Ground in the Guiné, Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 33, 1954
* The use of the ground in black Africa, Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 34, 1954
* On the mechanization of Agriculture in the Guiné, Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 34, 1954
* Ratios, objectivos and execution proceeding of the Agricultural Census of the Guiné (contribution), Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 33, 1954
* Forest fires and pousio in the area of Fulacunda, Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 35. 1954
* The contribution of the peoples of the Guiné for the agricultural Production, I. Cultivated surface, Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 36, 1954
* On the cycle of the culture of the peanut in overseas France. Report of the Arachide-Mils Conference, 1954
* Feux de Brousse et Jachères dans le Cultural Cycle Arachide-Mils, Bulletin Agronomique, nº. 12, Ministère France Outre-Mer, Comptes rendus of la Conférence Arachides-Mils, Bambey, 1954
* The Portuguese participation in the Arachide-Mils Conference, Bambey, Center of Studies of the Portuguese Guiné, 1954
* The alluviums of the Catumbela (Cassequel, Angola), features and use, Agricultural Society of the Cassequel, 1955
* Ground letter of the Property of the Cassequel (3.600 hectares), scales 1:5.000, Agricultural Society of the Cassequel, Luanda, 1956 (contribution)
* Microclimate and microclimates in the Fitossanitária Defense of the Stored Products, Annals (Studies of Fitossanitária Defense), vol.XI, volume II, Institute of Inquiries of Overseas, Lisbon, 1956
* Microclimate in a warehouse of Malange (Angola), Annals (Studies of Fitossanitária Defense), vol. XI, volume II, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, Lisbon, 1956
* The aluvianais ground of the Dande (Angola), features and use, Company of Sugar of Angola, 1957
* Ground letter of the Farm Attempt (Dande), (4.000 hectares), it scales 1:5.000, Company of the Sugar of Angola, 1957 (contribution)
* The Ground of the Dembe (Angola) (3.000 hectares), it scales 1:5.000, Company of the Sugar of Angola, 1957
* Ground letter of the Dembe (Angola) (3.000 hectares), it scales 1:5.000, Company of the Sugar of Angola, 1957
* Agricultural census of Guiné - 1953, Cultural Bulletin of the Portuguese Guiné, nº. 43, 1957
* For a Fitossanitária Sorting of the Storage, colecção Studies, Assays and Documents, nº. 51, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, 1958
* Results of the Fitossanitária Inspection of the Warehouses of Agricultural Products in the district of Lisbon, colecção Studies, Assays and Documents, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas and general Direcção of the Agricultura works, 1958 (in prelo)
* Of the Infestation of the stored Agricultural Products in Portugal, colecção Studies, Assays and Documents, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas and General Direcção of the Agricultura works, 1958 (in prelo)
* Deterioration and Contamination of the Stored Products, colecção Studies, Assays and Documents, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, 1958 (in prelo)
* Effect of the Attack of the Plagues on the Stored Products, colecção Studies, Assays and Documents, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, 1958 (in prelo) and Garci'a de Orta, vol.8 (nº. 1), 1-426, 1960
* Agrológico recognition of the Longa-Nhia Farm, Company Angolana de Agricultura, Luanda, 1958 (contribution)
* Ground letter of Farm S. Francisco, Company of the Sugar of Angola, Luanda, 1958 (contribution)
* The Ground and the Culture of the Coffee in the Roças of the Amboim and Seles, Company Angolana de Agricultura, Luanda, 1959 (contribution)
* Preliminary study of Ground of Longa-Nhia (Angola), Company Angolana de Agricultura, Luanda, 1959
* Of the viability of the Industrial Culture of the sugar beetroot in Portugal, Mercantile Warehouse Lda., Lisbon, 1959
* Agriculture in the Portuguese Guiné. Basic problems and features, Agros, vol. XLII, nº. 4, Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, 1959
* Of the culture and industrialization of the sugar beetroot. Contribution for its establishment in Portugal. Mercantile Warehouse Lda., Lisbon, 1959
* Of the Fitossanitárias Conditions of the bilges of the merchant ships in the port of Lisbon. Garci'a of the Orta, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, 1959 (in prelo)
* Of the Fitossanitárias Conditions of the Warehouses of the port of Lisbon, colecção studies, Assays and Documents, Meeting of Inquiry of Overseas, 1959 (in prelo)
* Ground letter of the Longa-Nhia Farm (Angola), (4.000 hectares), it scales 1:5.000, Company Angolana de Agricultura, 1960

Unknown reports and other works

* A Projecto for the studies of Ground of Green Cable, National Agronómica Station, Lisbon, 1951
* Possibilities of the industrial culture of Jutes in the Guiné, Distribution of the Agricultura works and Forest of the Portuguese Guiné, Bissau, 1954
* The Problem of the Rice in the Guiné, distribution of the Agricultura works and Forest and Inspection of the General Commerce, Bissau, Guiné, 1954
* Projecto de Recuperação of Ground for Agriculture in the Guiné. Distribution of the Agricultura works and Forest, Bissau, 1955
* Report of t
he Agricultural Census of the Guiné (original), Agricultura works and Forest, Bissau, 1954
* Possibilities of the Industrial Culture of the Sugar cane of Sugar in the Guiné, Mercantile Warehouse lda., Lisbon, 1955
* The Ground of the Portuguese Guiné, course carried through in the scope of the chair of Pedologia and Conservação of the Ground, Upper Institute of Agronomy, Lisbon, 1956
* Possibilities of the Culture of the Banana tree in the Portuguese Guiné, Commercial Society for the Promotion of Agriculture and the Industry in Guiné (SCOFAI), Lisbon, 1957
* Possibilities of the rational Scanning of the Pastures in the Islands of the Bijagós, Portuguese Guiné, Commercial Society for the Promotion of Agriculture and the Industry in Guiné (SCOFAI), Lisbon, 1957

Workmanships in red tape


* The salty alluviums in Angola
* The alluviums of Angola and Agriculture
* The culture of the caféeiro in Amboim and Selles (Angola)
* The ground and the sudden death of the caféeiro in Angola
* The cost of the production of the peanut in the Portuguese Guiné
* The cost of the production of the rice in the Portuguese Guiné

NO PINTCHA CAMARADA.

Cabral gave fraternal gratitude to the people of the Soviet and to the CPSU and we of PAIGC was thankful for the help that all nations gave regardless of their politics,we were gratefull to the people of North America,South America,and Asia and the help we got from Europeans and Africa.
"We had our own heads to think with" Cabral would say. To make the record straight Cabral was not a communist,Cabral was and Africanist and his party was the Party Of African Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde. One of the Americans who stood by our cause was an African American Congressman Diggs and many other Americans who came to the aid of Cabral and PAIGC. Cabral made contacts with many different theories on revolution and he made friends with many different people and he was thankful. He also studied Hanibal the great warrior,he also studied socialism in all of its forms. Most of all he studied his people and he was practical and pragmatic,he was a man of reality. Cabral also said we don't fight just because of ideas that other's have in their heads. His mind set was not that of Marx or Mao but he knew each used what was good for their struggle in accord to the conditions that was before them.
I will agree that Cabral was for communalism but there is a difference between Communalism and Communism.
Karl Marx a great teacher along with those before him did not invent the idea of communism,that all came about by the studies made of African communalism of the ancients while Europe was still in a backward stage.
If what Cabral did looks like what Marx or Hiegal or Lennin came up with as a scientific theory for evolution or revolution it was born in the belly and the breast of the African people long before these men were born.
What became the CP, was what was borrowed from African Empires of the past and improvised to the needs of the working class and the industrial revolution which dealt with the means of production and distribution of goods and ownership in the transition of society which they called communism. Cabral was an outstanding leader of African Liberation Movement and a great thinker who had his own head to think with.

Manu Salah
No Pintcha!

My questions are. Please tell us where is communism today being a success,
what country do we find life flouishing under communism? What changes have been made in what was the USSR? If Marx and Lenin were alive today would they make any changes in there ideology?

Why is not communism working in South Africa today?

What changes has Castro in Cuba made?

Is China a true communistic Republic in reality of what Lenin and Marx were all about?

Do you think we can make socialism work in Cabo Verde or communism?

Last question why is we don't here people talking about imperialism any more? Is Globalism another form of imperialism?

who cares of cabral outside of guinea? Who knows about cabral outside the lusofone world? ....very few. Stop the propaganda.

TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNS HIS NAME AS GUEST.

YOU ARE SO VERY WRONG IN YOUR HATEFULNESS ABOUT AMILCAR CABRAL.

HE IS WELL KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION AS A FREEDOM FIGFHTER.

WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY PROPAGANDA ABOUT HIM.

THE TRUTH IS ENOUGH TO VALIDATE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO AFRICA AND TO THE WORLD.

CABRALS SUCCESS IN THE LIBERATION MOVEMENT IS WELL KNOWN AND HE WAS A POLITICAL GENIUS.

IT HAS BEEN SAID BY MANY WORLD LEADERS AND SCHOLARS OF HISTORY THAT CABRALS CALIBER OF REVOLUTIONARY LEADERSHIP REST IN HIS SKILL AS A THINKER.

ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS A THEORIST HAS BEEN HIS ANALYSIS OF THE CLASS STRUGGLE AS IT RELATES TO THIS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COLONIZED PEOPLES.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO NEVER KNEW CABRAL OR ARE ANGRY THAT HE DEFEATED THE IDEA OF COLONIALISM AND ALONG WITH HIS MANY ASSOCIATES HELP NOT ONLY TO BRING NEW LIFE TO ALL COUNTRIES WHO SUFFERED UNDER COLONIALISM.

EVEN IN PORTUGAL CABRAL IS REVERED FOR HELPING TO OVER THROW
FASCISM AND DICTATORSHIP.

PORTUGAL BECAME A NEW COUNTRY AND CABRAL AND THE MANY FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF PORTUGAL GAVE LIBERTY TO A NEW NATION.

VIVA CABRAL.
VIVA PORTUGAL NOVO.

Manu Salah

Manu Salah what do u think?
Would Cabo Verde be a communist country if Cabral was alive today?

To Kriason 1

I can only speak about Cabral in the way he presented himself to me and when I was in his presents. To answer your question I don't think that Cabral would have chosen communism for Cabo Verde,I think that the way the government is now is the way he would approve. There is always room for improvement,I am sure we can all agree. I think we are working on it. This is a question for the Prime Minister. Here is my opinion.

Cabral wanted a democracy and I think we have a democracy. I think that present government is making every effort to do the best they can with what they have to work with. So far so good.

I think that Amilcar Cabral was a very astute thinker a person of common sense and pragmatic in the reality of the conditions he had to work with.

He was clever and discerning and made moves that worked to the success of his game plan for the liberation of his people both in Guinea Bissau & Cabo Verde. He had great insight and foresight.

He knew the history of the people and of the country,he also knew what was going on in the world and the politics of the world.

Cabral came to the USA and seeked help from the United States but at that time they were on the side of the colonialist. From what I understand he took help from any one who would give it,but he did say just because you help us we don't have to be like you. We say thank you.

Perhaps some one like President Aristides Pereira.
President Antonio Mascharena Monterio who is at Boston University could give you a better answer. We don't see communism working in any other country and it depends on how one defines communism today.

I think that Cabral was a man who knew how to play the game to win. And win he did. I think he was a man of the people and for the people and of the people So many things are subjected too who is doing the defining.

A person who is a hard line Marxist may have a different view.But that is not the way Amilcar Cabral presented himself to me.

I know that hardline communist have a tendency to over state there case on some issues,for example some people in the socialist party was trying to say that Malcolm X was a socialist I knew him very well that was not the case. I don't have a problem with socialism third world countries need to be pragmatic for what works in the reality of there actuality.

I wish I had a better answer for you. Thats my opinion on the subject.

freedom and liberty at any cost is worth the sacrifice.To bring justice and peace. Especially when some one comes into your country to make you a slave. I will say this I spent time in the military and in order to get things accomplished you must work as a unit and with uniformity one for all and all for one. If one person is out of step it becomes a problem

What we want is harmony and frugal economy and to build a nation second to none. The condition in Cabo verde are not very easy to work with, in a country that does not have gold,oil or diamonds. we need to make friends until we can get on our feet to create what we need.

I was in Cabo Verde the first time in 1974 again in 1979 and the last time in 2005 and I have seen much progress. Things are much better then they were. Give it any label you want,but Cabral said label's means nothing we do what we must for the development of our country for the advancement for all our peoples.

It is to bad cause I was only a bus driver so I don't know to much but those of you who are much wiser then I, I am sure with honesty and integrity and for the love of country and people you will help in the unity for our success.

We do have to be astute and very wise. What do you think Friend?
The best thing I can say at this time Deus Ku Nos.
Manu Salah

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OVERCOMING ALL FORMS OF EXPLOITATION.
AMILCAR CABRAL ALSO NEW THAT JUST CHANGING THE FLAG OR THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD SERVE IN A NEW PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT.

THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE THINKING OF THE PEOPLE,AND THAT WOULD TAKE A MUCH LONGER TIME,BECAUSE WE CAN'T UNDO IN 30 YEARS WHAT THE PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST 500 YEARS AND STILL CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION IS OUR YOUTH GETTING THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS?
WHO IN THE PAST HAD THE MINDS OF OUR PEOPLE FROM BIRTH UNTIL DEATH, AND UNDER WHO'S AUTHRORITY?

THE QUESTION IS WHO WERE THE FATHERS THAT MOLDED THE MINDS?

WE MUST PROMOTE THE DISCIPLNE AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEMOCRACY IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING FREE MEN AND WOMAN IN THE SALVATION OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF REALITY OF WHAT IS GOOD FOR OUR NATION NOT ON THE IDEAS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE ENSLAVED US MENTALLY FOR 500 YEARS.

WE MUST BE WATCHFULL OF THE TRAPPINGS OF THOSE WHO WANT TO INTERPRET FOR US THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST JESUS.

WE HAVE REAPED DESTRUCTION FROM THE DECEPTION OF OTHERS. SHOULD WE NOT BE VIGILANT?

WHY WAS THERE A REVOLUTION? IT IS MORE THEN JUST A FLAG OR A SONG.

BY FAITH ABEL OFFERED GOD A BETTER SACRIFICE THAN CAIN DID.
BY FAITH HE WAS COMMENDED AS A RIGHTEOUS MAN,WHEN GOD SPOKE WELL OF HIS OFFEREINGS.AND BY FAITH HE STILL SPEAKS,EVEN THOUGH HE IS DEAD. (ABEL DJASSI)

WHO WAS THE CAIN THAT TRULY SLAIN ABEL?

WE ARE TOLD:"DO NOT CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD,BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND."

THE SPIRIT OF DEUS IS IN YOUR HEART,SHALL WE FINE FAVOR IN THE EYES OF DEUS.

SHOULD NOT OUR SAVIOR BE IN OUR LIKENESS. IN OUR IMAGE.

MUST WE PAY HOMAGE TO OTHERS AND NOT TOO OUR OWN?

MUST WE BOW TO A FOREIGNER?

MUST WE OBEY THE PUPPETS?

ONE WHOSE ACTS ARE CONTROLLED BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE OR INFLUENCE,PUPPET-LIKE,OR OTHER WISE A PUPPY DOG.

AMILCAR LOPES CABRAL(ABEL DJASSI) SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF DEUS IN HEAVEN ALONG SIDE OF JESUS.

SECRETARY-GENERAL OF PAIGC. AMILCAR CABRAL
"OUR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BECOME MASTERS OF THEIR OWN DESTINY"
NO PINTCHA!

Manu Salah

thakns for anwering my ?s and for all the posts. you're a saviour...ok one more question.

Were there any other movements to liberate Cabo Verde, besides the one leaded by Amilcar Cabral. I've heard of UCID that originated here in the US, but had little or no influence....or do u think there was simply no need for more than one movement knowing how small CV was in terms of number of ppl.

My Dear.
I can only tell you what I know and that is that at some time or another some people had the mind set and the intentions in terms of thoughts to think about independence for Cabo Verde. Many of course wanted to stay with Portugal perhaps like a commonwealth.

I even had some idea in my head when in fact I was very involved with certain movements here in the USA. It was just an idea in my head and that was all.

I think that even Dr.Amilcar Cabral would tell you that he was not the first to think about liberation and many other men from the past toiled with the idea. As a matter of fact Cabral would have said the people of Cabo Verde and the people of Bissau wanted a change from what was. Just as that is true of all other African countries that suffered under colonialism and barbaric treatment from the colonizer.

To make a long story short,Amilcar as a student first of his Dad and his other friends and of course his education and affiliation with many progressive movement with other African students and we must remember the avant-garde thinkers (intelligentsia) of the socialist and communist movement which gave students a lot to think about.

What I do know is that while at different time Cabral was a leader among his peers. At different time in the process we had different names;but it was not until PAIGC was born the development of that party was able to mobilize and organize. That is not to say that other folk were not working with their idea such as Fling. History does show us that Amilcar Cabral and his camaradas were successful with PAIGC to bring about liberation for Guinea Bissau and Cabo Verde.

That is what I know but I am sure if in fact you get in touch with the memebers of PAIGC/PAICV they will have a more concrete analysis. You could read Unity & Struggle By Amilcar Cabral--- Revolution In Guinea By Amilcar Cabral and I think you will enjoy The Fortunate Isles A study in African Transformation By Basil Davidson very good reading. There are many other Books on and By Cabral one last book I will mention is Return To The Source By Amilcar Cabral,when he spoke to every important African American movement in the USA in New York.

I don't think of my self as a savior but i think Amilicar Cabral can wear that mantel along with all who worked in the struggle for liberation and independence,but let me say this the word savior is nothing mystical it only means one that saves from danger or destruction one who brings salvation and Cabral did this. SALVATION ONLY MEANS A DELIVERANCE FROM THE POWER AND EFFECTS OF SIN.

We as a people must raise our standings of thinking to the reality and actuality and free our minds from the mythological so-called teachings of the past and it is still with us in some religions so-called.

I hope that has helped you but for more indepth understanding please be in touch with the Consulate Generals Office in Boston.

Thank you for your kindness.
I am just a simple Caboverdiano trying to help in our struggle for success and to forge unity and progress;we hope that you will make your contribution you and other CV'S, one for all and all for one.

Viva Povo Cabo Verde.

Manu Salah

Hey Manu

I called u a savior because u are one of the few ppl that went to the struggle of liberation and keep talking about it for ppl my age that was born years after the independence and wants to know broadly what happened in the 60s and 70s. anyway...im asking these questons because im writing about the origin of CV political system and ideology.
Thats the reason i wanted to know if there were other political movements besideds PAIGC, knowing that these movements would later form goverments and governants. The lack of more political movement during the liberation fight, maybe has to do with the lack today of strong political parties, and we wouldnt have to be stuck with just PAICV and MpD.