Spring Break
Student group celebrates legacy of activist
Mark Scialla
Issue date: 1/28/09 Section: News
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This month marks the death of African political activist, poet and writer Amilcar Cabral. As co-founder and co-leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde and the Movement for the Liberation of Angola, Cabral was a threat to Portuguese colonial interests in the region.
"His story is extremely powerful," CVSA President Ludovica Almeida said after the presentation. "He is a key aspect about how we got independence. We wanted to say thank you."
Cabral organized communities and planned military actions against colonial forces in Africa during his life. He also led anti-imperialist and non-racist demonstrations.
On Jan. 20, 1973, Cabral was kidnapped and assassinated, though it is still unknown by whom.
As members of the CVSA prepared their electronic presentation, students slowly trickled into the dimly lit Hardge Forum and listened to the sounds of authentic Cape Verdean music as they waited for the slideshow to begin.
Freshman psychology major Samantha Liguori attended the event with classmates as part of a developmental psychology assignment.
"If you are going into psychology, you need to know about other cultures," Liguori said.
The slideshow featured photographs of the activist, accompanied by CVSA Vice President Sindy Altafulla's narrations describing the various stages of Cabral's life. Students of the CVSA displayed photographs of different locations in Cape Verde that were taken during a summer study abroad program, including a derelict prison used to detain political dissidents.
In the middle of the presentation, a student read one of Cabral's poems entitled "Island," which paid homage to the region.
Following the slideshow the floor was open to a question and answer discussion.
Many students expressed feelings of pride and love for Cabral and the country. The discussion became a juxtaposition of Cape Verdean culture to American culture.
"It means everything we were born into," student Yasah Vezele said about what culture means to her, "It's the way we act, the way we dress."
"Our culture is a reflection of many cultures around West Africa," Almeida said to the audience. "Growing up, people would ask me if I am white or black and I would say 'I'm Cape Verdean.'"
Director of the Multicultural Center Melvin Wade said he was pleased the CVSA made the presentation and wanted more student organizations to address the public.
"I don't think enough organizations on campus talk to the public about who they are," he said.
Although CVSA's events have yet to be determined, Altafulla said, "I hope we think about doing more of this."
