The Retornados from the Portuguese Colonies in Africa: Memory, Narrative, and History

The Retornados from the Portuguese Colonies in Africa explores the Return of Portuguese nationals living in African colonies when they became independent, through an interdisciplinary research agenda. It presents a collection of research essays that look at a wide range of memory narratives, including testimonial accounts, works of fiction, and public memory, to explore the interplay between official memory, lived experience, and fiction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Retornados from the Portuguese Colonies in Africa is a captivating exploration of the post-war European decolonisation migrations, focusing on the return of Portuguese nationals living in the African colonies as they gained independence. Through an interdisciplinary research agenda, the book presents a rich collection of research essays written by experts in anthropology, history, literature, and the arts. These essays delve into a diverse range of memory narratives, examining how the Return, as well as the experiences of war, violence, loss, and trauma, have been expressed, contested, and internalized within the social realm. The narratives encompass testimonial accounts from the so-called retornados and their descendants, as well as works of fiction and public memory, including novels, television series, artworks, films, and social media. By engaging in a dialogue between these different narrative modes, the book aims to explore the intricate interplay between official memory, lived experience, and fiction, contributing to a deeper understanding of the memory of the end of the Portuguese empire within postcolonial Europe. This insightful work will appeal to postgraduates, researchers, and academics, particularly those engaged in the fields of postcolonial studies, cultural studies, and memory studies.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367704100