Huambo – The state-owned newspaper publishing company Edições Novembro organised Monday a talk that discussed issues related to Angola’s liberation struggle and the central role played by the late priest (canon) Manuel das Neves in Angolan nationalism.
The event held in central Huambo Province was part of the 62nd anniversary of the beginning of the National Armed Liberation Struggle marked on February 4 in the presence of the province governor and guests.
At the event, Portuguese historian José Manuel da Silveira Lopes said canon Manuel das Neves was a Catholic priest who was involved in the fight for the liberation of Angola from the colonial yoke.
The Portuguese historian said the priest was arrested by the PIDE (then International and State Defence Police of the Portuguese colonial regime) accused of hiding the rebels who took part in the raids on the prisons in Luanda on February 4, 1961.
The historian added that, for the Portuguese troops the priest was seen as a criminal for the role he played during the revolt of February 4, 1961, as he had contacts with several nationalists, who intended, through correspondence and other actions, to promote clandestine meetings for acts of rebellion for the freedom of Angolans.
Huambo governor, Lotti Nolika, on her turn praised the initiative of Edições Novembro Printing Press company for providing young people with fundamental tools to promote the development of national history.
The governor added that tackling the history of February 4 allows reflecting on the suffering of the Angolan nationalists for the liberation of Angola against the colonial yoke.
The politician added that with the beginning of the Armed Struggle for National Liberation, Portuguese colonialism was forced to make deep reforms in its colonization system, with the abolition of the indigenato statute for the establishment of the contract to nationals, besides opening a university centre in Huambo in 1964.
The Edições Novembro CEO, Drumond Mafuta Jaime, said the choice of Huambo was due to the fact that it was the location of Angola's second university centre, in 1964, after Luanda (1962).
Mr Jaime said the event served to debate the beginning of the Liberation Struggle, as there are many curiosities of the youth about the processes carried out by the nationalists at the time.
It was on the dawn of February 4, 1961, that a group of women and men armed with sticks, machetes and other white weapons attacked the Casa de Reclusão and the São Paulo prisons, in Luanda, to free political prisoners, who had been threatened with death.
February 4, 1961, is considered an important milestone in the African struggle against colonialism, in a tradition of resistance against occupation that goes back to the peoples of Kassanje, Ndongo and the Central Highlands.
The events of February 1961 translated the sublime expression of nationalism demonstrated by Angolans.
