Violence. Part 2

Amílcar Cabral and Revolutionary Materialism

Morning Comrades.

As in Wednesday’s dispatch please apply the following philosophical and historical lesson in decolonization to your and our reality. That is the entire point of this mini-series. I would wager that the majority of us in the Imperial Core have never heard of Amílcar Cabral and his role in the liberation of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, hardly surprising but we are here to change that.

The colonial history of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde is a compelling narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of European imperial ambitions and the profound impact of colonialism on the lives of the people inhabiting these West African territories.

Portugal set its sights on establishing a colonial presence in the 15th century. Cape Verde, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of West Africa, became one of the first stops in this imperial venture, serving as a crucial waystation for ships en route to the Americas. The islands were strategically positioned, facilitating Portugal's control over transatlantic trade routes.

As European powers extended their reach into Africa, Portugal's influence expanded inland to include the region now known as Guinea-Bissau. The coastal territory, rich in resources and strategically important, became a focal point for Portuguese colonial endeavours. The Portuguese, driven by economic motives such as the slave trade and the extraction of natural resources, established a presence that would endure for centuries.

The colonial experience in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde was characterized by exploitation, forced labor, and the imposition of European cultural norms. Which is putting their genocide lightly.

Throughout the centuries, resistance to colonial rule manifested in various forms, from localized uprisings to the emergence of intellectual and political movements seeking self-determination. Amílcar Cabral, a key figure in the anti-colonial struggle, played a central role in shaping the destiny of these territories, ultimately leading them to independence in the 1970s.

A most infamous statement of his that leads the focal point of today’s dispatch was:

“Always remember that the people are not fighting for ideas, nor for what is in men’s minds. The people fight and accept the sacrifices demanded by the struggle in order to gain material advantages, to live better and in peace, to benefit from progress, and for the better future of their children. National liberation, the struggle against colonialism, the construction of peace, progress and independence are hollow words devoid of any significance unless they can be translated into a real improvement of living conditions.”

Amílcar Cabral, Return to the Source: Selected Speeches of Amílcar Cabral

You can find a vast library of his work and thought by following this link.