The twelfth of September 2024 marks the centenary of the birth of Amílcar Cabral. “A simple African man”, as he described himself, “doing his duty in the context of his time”, Amílcar Cabral gained widespread recognition and prominence not just for having masterminded and led the most successful fight for national liberation in the former Portuguese colonies in Africa, which led to the establishment of two independent states, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, but also for the valuable theoretical legacy on which he based that struggle.
The dynamic resulting from this revolutionary process was a decisive factor in the defeat and demise of the Portuguese colonial empire, with a significant and widely acknowledged impact on the evolution and political reconfiguration of the African continent.
What makes Amílcar Cabral stand out, and stand among the great figures of contemporary history, is his unusual combination of personality traits: he was a charismatic political leader, a skilled diplomat and a wise military strategist guided by solid ethical and humanist principles, as well as a prolific producer of theory based on his reflections on the liberation struggle, incorporating various realms of human knowledge, particularly culture and the social sciences.
These multiple facets, and the influence he exerted and continues to exert over many contemporary intellectuals, make Cabral one of the most important historical figures of 20th-century Africa and an indispensable point of reference for today’s thinkers, as is reflected in the countless published works about his life and thought, including several doctoral dissertations, not to mention the frequent conferences and debates dedicated to him by academic institutions around the world. Renowned writers, thinkers, artists and social activists from all continents esteem and admire him. Many recognise Amílcar Cabral’s influence on their own journey and choices, and a remarkable quantity of scientific and artistic works have been devoted to him. Among those who, even today, are motivated to fight for the ideals of justice, progress, freedom and equality, many seek inspiration and guidance in his writing and his exemplary ethical attitude. Attesting to the universal recognition of the value of his legacy, numerous cities in various continents have erected statues of him, and countless streets, avenues, squares and other notable locations including universities, schools, hospitals, buildings and diverse institutions around the world, bear the name Amílcar Cabral.
To pay tribute to this illustrious Cape Verdean and Guinean, who was at the same time both African and universal, in celebration of the centenary of his birth, numerous initiatives are underway, not just in countries whose freedom he planned and secured or in the respective diasporas scattered around the world, but also in a large number of countries where the influence of his legacy remains current and relevant. Celebrating Cabral on his hundredth birthday, recognising the importance of his legacy in the affirmation of our identity, is nothing more than “doing our duty in the context of our time”.
Pedro Pires
President of the Amílcar Cabral Foundation
