On the multiple dimensions – histories, processes, actions, memories and postcolonial legacies – of these independences that changed the configuration of global politics in the second half of the 20th century.

50 Years of the Independence of Portuguese Colonies in Africa:

Processes, Legacies and Memories

In 2025, four former Portuguese colonies in Africa (Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe) will celebrate the 50 th anniversary of their independence, joining Guinea-Bissau which, two years earlier (in September 1973), had unilaterally proclaimed the state of Guinea, formally accessing independence on September 10, 1974. In fact, the complex negotiation processes that opened the door to independence of these territories that had been dominated by Portugal for centuries were not straightforward. Thus, from the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Guinea (an important precedent at international level) to the opening of negotiation processes in the cases of Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe complex and important geopolitical and transnational webs were established, in the African and global context of the Cold War and the aftermath of the Sino-Soviet split, which are worth analysing.

The aim of this International Conference is to mark the 50 th anniversary of these transcendental events for the lives of African territories once colonized by Portugal, some of whom (Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique) endured devastating liberation wars/colonial wars. These struggles for emancipation are part of a long history of resistance by the peoples subjected to imperial exploitation, forced labour, racism and colonialism. As it is well known, the processes that led to independence generated multiple dynamics and ramifications which, on the one hand, went beyond the main borders of each territory; on the other, produced internal and external interactions, with various elements and constraints, combining the international context of the time with internal demands for political sovereignty by the colonized peoples.

In this sense, independence should not be interpreted as an isolated historical event, nor as a linear and homogeneous event. There is a specific historicity that characterizes independence processes in each of the territories, processes that are marked by several and diverse complexities. So much so that we cannot separate independence from the struggles of the liberation movements, anti-colonialism, the revolutions in the Third World, anti-imperialism and the struggle against dictatorship and fascism in Portugal. In short, independence resulted from various struggles carried out by the liberation movements on different fronts. Their actions also contributed to the Revolution of April 25, 1974, and, consequently, to the fall of the fascist dictatorship in Portugal.

>> Programme (PDF) <<

Call for Papers

After 50 years of these historical events that led to the emergence of new nation-states, this international conference aims to reflect on the multiple dimensions – histories, processes, actions, memories and postcolonial legacies – of these independences that changed the configuration of global politics in the second half of the 20th century. As such, proposals are invited for contributions on topics such as:

• Independence struggles (concepts, political, cultural and social contexts);
• Independence struggles, anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism and Third World revolutions;
• International solidarity with the former Portuguese colonies and intersections with other anticolonial struggles in the context of the Cold War;
• Actors, activists and independentist organizations;
• Gender, education and popular mobilization in the struggles for independence;
• Arts, artivism and cultural manifestations in the struggles for independence;
• Contribution from independence struggles to the fall of Portuguese dictatorship;
• Decolonization after 25 April 1974;
• Building new African nation-states and neo-colonialism;
• Colonial legacies in independent African countries and Portugal;
• Civil wars and democratic transition in independent African countries;
• The construction of memory in independent African countries and Portugal.

Abstracts for presentations (200 words) and a biographical note (250 words) should be sent to the following email: independencias50anos@gmail.com

Deadline for submissions: 15 December 2024
Notification of acceptance: 30 January 2025

Conference languages: Portuguese, English and French

>> Download the call for papers (PT / FR / EN, PDF) <<

Keynote speakers:

Maria da Conceição Neto (Universidade Agostinho Neto)
Severino Elias Ngoenha (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane)

Organisingg Committee:

Aurora Almada e Santos (IHC — NOVA FCSH / IN2PAST)
Julião Soares Sousa (CEIS 20 — Universidade de Coimbra)
Raquel Ribeiro (IHC — NOVA FCSH / IN2PAST)
Víctor Barros (IHC — NOVA FCSH / IN2PAST)

Scientific Committee:

Gabriel Fernandes (Universidade de Santiago)
Jean Martial Arséne Mbah (Investigador, Doutorado em História Contemporânea)
Jean-Michel Mabeko-Tali (Howard University)
Marçal de Menezes Paredes (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul)
Maria Nazaré de Ceita (Universidade de São Tomé)
Michel Cahen (Sciences Po Bordeaux)
Miguel Cardina (Universidade de Coimbra)
Odete Semedo (Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa, Guiné-Bissau)
Pedro Aires Oliveira (IHC — NOVA FCSH / IN2PAST)
Teresa Cruz e Silva (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane)