Salah O. Mateus, aka (Mutabani Wa Kintu Katonda) Bantu
I AM CHER'NO SALAH, Born 6/29/33, New Bedford Mass.
Cabo-Americano

I first heard about Amilcar Cabral from Malcolm X who met him in Egypt, at that time I was a member of the (OAAU) Organization of African American Unity after the OAU, Organization of African Unity. Then there was a dear friend Rev. Muhammad Keyatta from Philly. I was Director of the African Desk for The Black Economic Development Conference (BEDC).

I bought the book [Unity &Struggle] by Amílcar Cabral and that became my Bible. I went on radio program WDAS & WHAT talking about what Cabral had said about Portuguese colonialism. I was also involved with Frelimo, with Brother Khan and with Mohammad Babu of Tanzania with Malcolm X. In 1969 I was able to convince the Episcopal Church in Philly to give me a grant to go to West Africa. Bishop De Witt was the bishop at the time. I was very much involved in the Black Power struggle. No one knew that I was a CV. The rest is history. I stayed with a friend Mamadou Dia from Senegal who graduated from University of Pa; he became advisor to Leopold Senghor President of Senegal. He now works for the World Bank. There is much more to the story. Mamadou Seck, who was ambassador from Senegal, help me out a lot at the time he was Captain Seck in the Senegalese Air Force.

What most people don't know how much trial and tribulation I went through travelling in Senegal from Dakar to St Louie, to Lugar, to Thies, into the desert of Mataam, into Mauritania, to Cassamance, and every other little village looking for Cabral. I was a man on a mission. I spent several months in Gambia from Banjul to Bakao and some names which I have forgotten. All alone in a strange land which I knew nothing about. In Gambia I finally met a young man named Eugénio Texeira Spain who worked at MosDolly Pharmacy in Banjule, who was a militant of PAIGC and after much conversation he made it possible for me to meet with Louis Cabral at the edge of Cassamance at the border. Then I was taken to see the reality of the arm struggle in the bush. The hardship I had to endure is a story in itself. When I went to Africa from Philadelphia I weighed 175 pounds when I came back to the States I was 128 pounds. I am not sure of all the dates but I also met with Abílio Duarte in Guinea, and he schooled me in the working of our struggle and PAIGC and sent me back as the 1st Responsible of PAIGC to America. He said I was the only American born who came to Africa and spent time looking for them. There is too much to tell so I won't try. When Cabral was assassinated I was devastated to say the least, but my mission was accomplished by my ability to organize CV & African Americans and other Americans to our cause. I went on every radio station and TV and spoke at every college and church that would let me in.

When in fact I met my first good contact in the States it was an American CV/Waupanog Indian in the Park by the name of George Tobey who in turn helped me to meet a brother Vernon Sousa in Boston who was the founder of III Pyramids with office in Duxbury, Mass. There for the first time I met with Tony Gonsalves and Ben Fernandes. These CV's were militants and involved in the civil rights movement in South Eastern Massachusetts. Helping poor people especially CV’s and other poor Americans. This is what I needed to make my base of operation. I spent hours, days and nights teaching these brothers and helping to make them cadres for our movement. They knew nothing about Amílcar Cabral or PAIGC or the struggle of the liberation movement. I made it possible for Tony through my work as a militant of PAIGC to understand what we were up against. Tony had a car he drove me to Oxford, Pa to go meet Cabral who was speaking at Lincoln University. We met Cabral and that is another story to tell. A picture was taking of Cabral, Tony and me, interesting enough, when we got the photo someone cropped me out of the picture, there was a blank of white in the place I stood next to Cabral, I never found out who did it and why it was done but today Tony has that picture of him and Cabral without me. When one sees the photo it looks like Tony Gonsalves met Cabral and not I. Interesting, that picture appeared in the Fandata Magazine, and many pictures of Tony when he went to Guinea. I won't go there. Some say CIA cropped me out to try to make a split between myself and Tony. Other speculate that Tony may have tampered with the photo. I saw the handwriting on the wall and I never made it an issue. The unity for our work was much bigger than a photo. Of course today I wish that had not happened because I was cut out and that is history. Later on the party sent people clandestine to stay with us at the home of Ben Ferenades in Marsfield, Mass. Abílio Duarte, Silvino da Luz and others. I must not forget to tell you Gil Fernandes who was travelling with Cabral when he came to the States was sent to check us out in Duxbury, Mass, spent a few days. I also met with Cabral and Gil Fernandes in New York and spent several days with him in New York and went to many places in which Cabral spoke. I was the only one that was with him. In the back of the book ‘Return to The Source’ you will see my name Salahudin Matthews I was at that meeting when Cabral spoke to all the major African American movements that had militants in there own right for some cause or another. Van Leirop of the AIS was responsible for that large meeting with many leaders. I should also note that (Jota Jota) João José Silva came and stayed with us in New Bedford for a long time; Jota Jota, born in Fogo, had parents who lived in the Boston area not far from St Patricks church. I studied everything I could get my hands on about Cabral & the PAIGC movements and I was very good at what I did; and I salute the Brothers & Sister's of III Pyramids who became strong cadres and obedient to the discipline of the Party and Cabral’s thoughts, and today we can see the results of our team work and our efforts. Without them it would have been a much more difficult work for me. Thank Deus that there was such a movement by the Caboverdean brothers and sisters. They should get much recognition, which is long overdue.

Cabral Ka Moure.
No Pintcha!!!!
One for all and all for one
A simple Caboverdean African American Man doing what was right from the love and for the love of his people. We remember our grandparents and the hardship they suffered both in Cabo Verde and in the USA or any place else is the diaspora.

We are on the road to recovery and we will be second to none.
Education and enlightenment, unity, integrity, honesty with dignity.

Manu-Salah
Reality & Actuality
D.E.U.S.
Dialectic-Eclectic-Universal-Science.
Discipline, Enlightenment, Ubiquitous, Salvation.
Salvation only means to protect from harm.

There is a big story to tell from Mamadou Dia in terms of what we have done together both in the States and in Africa.
He received his degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Economics in Philadelphia. If by chance there was some way for you to speak with him he can tell you much about me. He has a home in Dakar, and the last I heard he was working in some capacity with the World Bank. I am sure every one in Dakar will know about him.
Also when I met Captain Seck who later on became General Seck then ambassador to the USA. He can tell you quite a story; he is the one who helped me to escape into the woods and rural areas, to be on my way to meet with militants of the party, that is one part of the saga in my journey. Lateef Droury who was a tax collector who lived in Lugar on the edge of the desert, who was married to an African American peace core worker was also very helpful… In Gambia a writer by the name of Ousano Njiah who also worked for the Gambia Bank was very helpful along with a police officer from Bakao named Julde Jallow. Also a very dear person, Dr. Sambar who operated on me to perform a circumcising, so that I would be accepted into the Fulani Tribe and among the Muslims, who I spent a lot of time with. Yes it did hurt. This was done at The Queen Victoria Hospital in Bathurst (Banjul) Gambia. That is one of the price I paid to show my honesty and sincerity to the people of that compound.

When I left Philadelphia, Pa, I had a round trip ticket and $400.00 in cash as a stipend from the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal headquarters is at Ritten House Square in Philly. I was only to stay in Africa for 45 days but since I had not made contact with anyone I turned in my ticket and stayed until I did. By this time, all my money ran out and the American clothes I had the Africans were wearing them, as payment for food and shelter and I was wearing their clothes. I even gave away my camera and my wrist watch as some sort of payment. There were times I was all alone in some place, not knowing where in the hell I was, but sooner or later I would run into someone who would help me out. I spent many nights sleeping under a Baboa tree, not really sacred, but wondering at every movement or sound, thinking wild animals were going to get me. You know, from America my mind was Africa and the Tarzan movies. I prayed a lot.

Perhaps this will get your imagination to working and stimulate your thoughts about a young man who was obsessed with finding Cabral and being a Freedom Fighter nothing could deter me from this mission. I was determined, resolute and maybe sometimes a little bit dumb in my persistence.
Cher'no Salahudin Omowali Matteos (Cher'no is the title the Muslim Cheiks and Marabous gave me.
Manu-Salah

I did not get into pictures because I was on a clandestine mission and I did not want the wrong people to know; and I try my best to fit in and blend with the people. There was a few times I was bold and corky, that was the American in me and that Fire from the Island of Djha-Fogo & Djha-Brava.

Senhor Salah, I need to meet you personally. We need to sit down and talk abouth these topics as I am more and more interested in hearing from someone who lived this kind of experiences and is willing to talk about it.
My email is: 'Todaline@gmail.com'.
Thank you,
Lu

With all that is going on in this world,the question is what direction is Cabo verde moving in?

Those who are in the position to direct our course where do you intend to take us? What do we want for our future? Does any one know?

We hear all the time jun ta mon;but for what purpose do we want too join hands? Where do we stand in the view of world politics?

What is our ultimate goal?

What is our program for the future? How do we intend to unite the caboverdianos around the world. Do we want the people to return to Cabo verde and what provisions are being made so that we can return too Cabo verde?

What sort of government do we want? What are the plans for the future of Caboverdean people? What do we need to do in order to bring about unity? Is there some sort of blue print that will guide us on a new road for the success of all Caboverdianos?

What form of education and what is our philosophy of life or for life?

What is our overall vision or attitude and purpose for the development for our people?

What ethics and discipline and logic will we follow?

What is it we think we need to do in order to succeed?

We are a new nation that for the first time we have our own heads to think with. What are we thinking?

What do we want as a people?

We have enough land area that every Caboverdiano could return to Cabo Verde. What is on the drawing board? Do we have a drawing board?

Are we making the proper preparation for Caboverdianos to return to Cabo verde.?

What must be done and how do we do it?

Does any one have any answers?

What kind of government will we have for our future?

Economic -Ecology-Environment all which are key for our development plus all the other areas of science such as medicine and agriculture.

We as the people would like to know about this.

For those who are interested would we be willing to pay a tax or some kind of tithe to help Cabo Verde in its development ?

Well this is just something to think about. Perhaps some of you are much better at this then I am can come up with a solution on how we can help in the development of Cabo Verde ( Azijah)

Was our struggle in our revolution only for the people who live on the Islands or was it for all the caboverdean people?
For those who were against it yesterday perhaps you have changed your mind and the only way to help is to put the money in the right place and that is in the Bank of Cabo Verde for that development.

Just think what you would like Cabo verde to be and look like in another 50 years. I will not be here but if our children and their children have the right mind set and we educate them for our future Cabo verde can be second to none. All sorts of industries that deal with the sea,plus tourism. Just a fancy thought you all.

If the Europeans were able to build what is today called North America,
Australia.New Zealand and what is called Israel.
Caboverdianos could do the same and we don't have to steal any ones land because it is ours. Think about it

Who are our Master Planners? We need to hear from you all.
All for one and One for all.

When the first person invented the wheel every one thought he or she was nuts too.
Manu Salah Omowali Barboza Rosa Mateus

Hi Mr. Salah Mateus,


I can see your worries about what we need to do as a nation to help CVerde succeed.

Let me give you my perspective which is very personal because first of all I am not affilited politically and I always make sure I let that clear before I make any comments that may involve political views.


Cabo verde has been a province of Portugal as we all know for 500 hundred years. Even though Portuguese people tried to use their own colonial ways "dividir para reinar" divide to be in control, they created division between the various composition of Capeverdean people by saying that.

If your complexion is closer to europeans than you're better than the ones whose complexion was closer to Africans.

They said Capeverdeans are "second Europeans"? to imply the idea that Europeans are best than if you're second then you're second best.

The color of your skin was essential to determine the categories of people you fit in and the treatment you received by Portuguese administrators, but the Island you belonged also made a difference. For example, Santiago as the Island with the majority of people with African characteristics were devoted to most of neglect by Portuguese administration, at that time and less oportunity were given to people from Santiago. EVEN TODAY YOU SEE THE EFFECTS OF SUCH DISCRIMINATION IN THE COUNTRY. Thanks to Independence funana and batuko is heard in any noble place just like morna and coladera.

However, because of the lack of resourses that the country increasingly came to encounter itself, poverty versus wealth was given stronger emphasis to determine the difference between people than White versus black.

Badiu & sampadjudo is the other way to imply that diference. It is not naive like some people tend to think and thus minimize the effects of such "pseudonimun". They have meaning and it seems that people are aware of it. It is the stigma that consciously or uncounsciously people use to mean: I am different from you.

As we proceeded as a nation, a GIFT FROM AMILCAR CABRAL, that direction of how things were going were supposed to change, but it didn't happen immediately. During the first decade of Independent government, the slogan was self determination and the learning to live in an Independent country but education was still on demand.

Either because of the socialist influence that lead the country to Independece or because it was better for a young Independent country, MONOPARTIDARISM was in style and it was good untill the people got fed up with the system.

In fact, it didn't work for everybody. Monopartidarism is full of imperfection as a form of democracy. Because of that, to survive, it takes a lot of control on the part of government and then freedom of the people vanished.

The Such great hope that people had to improve their lives with Independence, democracy, self-determination, began to be questioned. With the advent of fall of Soviet Union, and the influence of Capitalist countries, people understood that change was necessary.

Then, the system turned into a multi-parties one which gave people more freedom to express, more fringe of people to be represented, more voices heard and also more education.

Now that the former monosystem party is governing in a multi-partisan system, it raises the question again.

Are they going to do the same thing again?

No matter what the answer is, people felt they were not secure under MPD and voted PAICV again, but I also belive that the people have something granted that they didn't in Monopartisan system:

The right to turn any party out if they don't want that party. That for sure were not the option in the monopartisan system.

That will never change back and parties may choose wahtever strategy to make their point across, they still fear the fact that the people has the ultimate power to turn any party out or in.

To me, now we need to turn our small nation into a big nation and raise the consciousness of our uniqueness and identity so that the extension of CABO VERDE beyond its physical frontier becomes the same as the one inside the mother land and "Sampadjudo & badiu" into Capeverdeans.

Cabrala

MY DEARL BELOVED BROTHER AND CAMARADA.

I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL POST;WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FROM OUR PEOPLE IN CABO VERDE. THIS IS THE BEST INFORMATION AND EDUCATONAL ESSAY IF I CAN CALL IT THAT.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND,AND THIS IS WHAT WILL HELP TO BRING US CLOSER TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE FOR OUR UNITY OF PURPOSE.

WE THINK THAT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF THE GLOBAL CABO VERDE NATION.

I AM AND ALL CABOVERDIANOS APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE QUESTIONS.

YOU HAVE MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CAUSE FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. WE HOPE THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE POSITION TO LEAD US, WILL CONTINUE IN THIS METHOD OF EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT.

WE AS A PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND WE HOPE THAT THE MANY DIFFERENT VIEWS WILL COME TOGETHER IN A DEMOCRATIC WAY TO SERVE OUR NATION AND OUR PEOPLE AND NOT THE INDIVIDUALS SELFISH ENTRPRENEURS.

WE THINK THAT IF WE BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY AT THE BASE THEN OUR FOUNDATION WILL BE STRONG. OUR PEOPLE WILL BE HEALTHY STRONG MINDS AND STRONG BODIES AND THE BEST OF CHARACTER AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

WHAT WE ALL NEED IS FOOD,CLOTHING SHELTER,PROPER MEDICINE,
THE BEST IN EDUCATION,GOOD WORK ETHICS.

LOVE & KINDNESS AND TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER.

SINGING AND DANCING AND TO HAVE MORABEZA FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

MANU SALAH

Thanks for your post and your comments!

I agree with what you've said. The base of our our economy is the men and women we have. Threfore, our best investment should be "eudcation" of our son and daughters. If we educate them they will bring the best that exists in all corners of the world and put it to work in CVerde.

Thanks again!

Cabrala

WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM.

SOME TIMES WE HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION,BUT WE ARE NOT TWINS AND EVEN TWINS DON'T THINK ALWAYS THE SAME.

WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND TO BRING ABOUT UNITY.

WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM.

SOME TIMES WE HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION,BUT WE ARE NOT TWINS AND EVEN TWINS DON'T THINK ALWAYS THE SAME.

WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND TO BRING ABOUT UNITY. WE ARE EXCHANGING IDEAS FROM THE MANY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WE HAVE HAD OVER THE MANY YEARS WE ALL HAVE BEEN SEPERATED.

CAN YOU IMAGINE CABOVERDIAN PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT WAS FORCED TO ASSIMILATE TO WHAT EVER COUNTRY THEY LIVED IN FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS, OR MORE FOR SOME PEOPLE. FOUR AND FIVE GENERATION AND SO MANY INTERMARRIAGES AND LIVING IN DIFFERENT CULTURES. WE CAN GIVE THANKS TO ALL OF OUR ELDERS AND OUR GRANDPARENTS. I CAN ONLY THINK OF THE DIFFICULTY THAT FOLK HAD IN CABO VERDE WHEN IT WAS FAMINE AND DRAUGHT AND THE BAD TIMES THEY HAD WITH PIDE UNDER PORTUGUSES COLONIALISM. WE WERE TOLD SO MANY STORIES ON HOW THEY LET ON SHIPS TO COME TO THE AMERICAS AND FOR SOME THEY GOT LOST AT SEA SOME DID NOT MAKE IT OTHERS WERE THROWN OF COURSE LANDED IN CUBA OR BERMUDA EVEN SOME FOLK LANDED IN THE CARIBBEAN EVEN IN THE SOUTH .

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT,MY GRANMOTHER CAROLINE SAID THEY WERE CAUGHT IN A VERY BIG STORM THE BOAT WAS BATTERED AND THE SAILS WERE TORN AND THEY WERE GOING AROUND IN A CIRCLE PEOPLE DIED ON THE SMALL VESSEL SHE WAS ON.

THE CAPTAIN DIED ON THE BOAT. AFTER 47 DAYS NO FOOD NO WATER TO DRINK;A BIG SHIP CAME BY AND HELP TO TOW THEM INTO NEW YORK. MY GRANMOTHER WAS ONLY 13. WHEN THEY GOT TO NEW YORK SHE REMEMBERS THAT SOME WHITE MAN WANTED TO BY HER BECAUSE SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL WITH GREEN EYES AND LONG RED HAIR.

THERE ARE SO MANY UNTOLD STORIES FROM SO MANY OTHERS WE DO NOT HEAR ABOUT. THIS WAS BACK IN 1902. SHE WAS FROM DJHA-BRAVA A SMALL VILLAGE NAMED MATO. CAROLINE RAINY OR RENNY WAS BORN 5/20/1888. SHE WAS MARRIED TO MY GRANDFATHER AURELIO Da ROSA FOR 72 YEARS,HE WAS ALSO FROM BRAVA A PLACE CALLED LAM OR LIN A GREAT VIOLIN PLAYER AND TEACHER,ARRIVED IN THE USA IN 1900 WHEN HE WAS 16 LANDED IN MARTHAS VINYARD

OH WELL THATS ENOUGH OF THAT, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU ALL.

TAKE CARE.

MANU