
Práticas da História No. 10
Sep 18, 2020 | 2020, Editions, Práticas da História

Práticas da História – Journal on Theory, Historiography and Uses of the Past
- 2020
- Issue 10
- ISSN: 2183-590X
- Special issue: Luso-tropical, Oriental, and Post-luso-tropical Medievalisms: Crossroads in the definition of the Portuguese Middle Ages as Brazil’s past — Edited by Pedro Martins and Maria de Lurdes Rosa
Excerpt from the Editorial:
Since its third issue (2016), the journal Práticas da História has devoted much attention to the question of the uses and representations of the Middle Ages – what several scholars have designated as medievalism. Prolific authors in this field such as Richard Utz, David Matthews, Valentin Groebner, Andrew B. R. Elliott and Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri have used this publication to debate a host of topics related to medievalism, from the uses of the medieval past by European nationalisms to the relevance of the representations of the Middle Ages in so-called contemporary “popular culture”. However, the interest in medievalism is not merely a consequence of the thematic scope or personal preferences of the editors of this publication – in fact, it has been growing. Since its theoretical conception in the 1970s, studies on “medievalism” have raised a series of questions related not only to the problematization of the idea of the “Middle Ages”, but also to the diverse interpretations that have been made about this historical period since its conceptualization.
One of the questions that has received least attention, though recent academic works have been challenging this trend, is the relation between medievalism and colonial and post-colonial contexts. Authors such as John N. Ganim, Louise D’Arcens and Nadia Altschul have reflected on this relation, particularly regarding topics such as the proximity between medievalism and “orientalism” or the relevance of medievalism in post-colonial societies such as Australia and Latin American countries. This reflection has shown, among other aspects, the close-knit intersection between the evocation of the Middle Ages and the advance of European imperialism under the guise of allegedly ethical values, in fields where this framework sits awkwardly, such as the conquest, domination, and conversion of populations to the Christian faith. From the point of view of social sciences, the medievalist perspective has also brought important theoretical contributions: post-colonial studies were challenged on their simplistic views about the Middle Ages; “orientalism” was given a more ancient past and a more complex history; the study of the idea of race gained historical depth. Finally, in recent years, the study of the academic and cultural conception of the Middle Ages as a founding moment of the European past for nineteenth-century nations has developed in a no less interesting direction – how the colonies of these nations, and the countries born from them, also invented a medieval past, and through it refused their non-European, pre-colonial origins. Even if that past was not al-ways regarded positively – as was the case in certain Brazilian contexts –, only much more recently (and partially) did it begin to be interrogated as (another) imaginary past, allowing the integration of native peoples in the history of these countries.
Pedro Martins (IHC — NOVA FCSH) and Maria de Lurdes Rosa (IEM — NOVA FCSH)
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Detalhes do Evento
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
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Detalhes do Evento
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.
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)
Tempo
julho 17 (Quinta-feira) - 19 (Sábado)
Localização
University of Lisbon School of Law
Alameda da Universidade — Cidade Universitária — 1649-014 Lisbon
Organizador
Institute of Contemporary History — NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities and CEIS20 - Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies — University of Coimbra

Detalhes do Evento
A film exhibition organised by the FILMASPORA project, which promotes an encounter between productions arising from the Sintra area and works made in the Bairro do
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Detalhes do Evento
A film exhibition organised by the FILMASPORA project, which promotes an encounter between productions arising from the Sintra area and works made in the Bairro do Zambujal.
Mostra FILMASPORA
Nos dias 19 e 20 de Julho, a equipa do projecto FILMASPORA organiza uma mostra de filmes que promove o encontro entre produções da Linha de Sintra e obras realizadas no Bairro do Zambujal.
Junte-se a nós para dois dias de diálogo, partilha e cinema.
O projeto FILMASPORA tem como objectivo fomentar o intercâmbio cultural e audiovisual, aproximando comunidades através da exibição de curtas e médias-metragens que dão voz às vivências, expressões e narrativas locais.
Programa
19 de Julho
A Partilha — Associação de Moradores do Bairro do Zambujal, Loures, 21h
21h – HIP-HOP KRIOLO
21h30 – Enciclopédia Hip Hop Volume 1 (2016), de Uncle C
20 de Julho
Espaço Mbongi 67, Linha de Sintra, 16h
16h – Lisboa, Pódio de Quimeras (2021), de Welket bungué
16h30 – Cantores do Submundo (2012), de Fernando Moreira
>> Programa da mostra (PDF) <<
Tempo
19 (Sábado) 9:00 pm - 20 (Domingo) 6:00 pm
Localização
Loures and Sintra
Organizador
Institute of Contemporary History — NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanitiescomunicacao.ihc@fcsh.unl.pt Avenida de Berna, 26C - 1069-061 Lisbon
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Applications are open until 30 September
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Jul 16, 2025
RESONANCE is coordinated by Hélia Marçal
Manuel Loff receives Porto’s Medal of Merit
Jul 14, 2025
He was one of the personalities honoured by Porto City Council
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