Imperial Actors? Cape Verdean Mentality in the Portuguese Empire under the Estado Novo, 1926–1974

Abstract

In July 1939, Mário Rogério Afonso Leite, the Cape Verdean administrator of Maio Island, one of the poorest of the isles of the archipelago, was invited to explain his activity in the first half of the year, described by his Portuguese superiors in the Praia administration as inadequate, even as ‘apathy.’ Afonso Leite’s account of the situation on Maio was mainly an apology for his own failures to bring about change. However, he also commented on the nature of the ordinary islanders. According to the official, these islanders were living on a level that could ‘hardly be called civilised’; their modes of production and attitudes seemed to be somewhat ‘archaic’:

The people of this island show humility; they are respectful and earnest, for which I still regard them with an affectionate smile on my lips — the smile with which I am used to look at those who wish to be good … They remind me of those unhappy children we want to protect …²

Research for this chapter enjoyed at different stages the support of the University of Berne, the Holcim Foundation, and ERC Starting Grant n° 240898 within the Framework Programme 7 of the European Commission.