“Atlantean” promotes reflection on 50 years of autonomy of the Azores

O 71th volume of the magazine “Atlantida”, of the Açorian Institute of Culture (IAC), which is launched on Sunday, marks the 50 years of autonomy of the Azores, with texts from current and former presidents of the governing bodies of the region itself.

“ We have addressed invitations to those who were the agents of these 50 years of Azorean autonomy. Fortunately, most of it is among us and has gladly accessed this discussion on what are the gains of the autonomic process, which are those who are not yet in full enjoyment and what are the challenges for the future”, Lusa said, in statements to IAC President Rogério Sousa.

With an edition of 456 pages, this volume has contributions from the current president of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, and the predecessors Vasco Cordeiro and Carlos César.

It also includes texts by the president of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, Luís Garcia, and the previous presidents Francisco Coelho, Fernando Menezes (who died in July) and Dionysio de Sousa (who died this Thursday).

“ We are very glad that we can count on these contributions, which turned out to be the ultimate ones in this theme ", said Rogério Sousa.

On the autonomy of the Azores also write José H. Ornelas, Avelino de Meneses, Mário Fortuna, Álvaro Damaso, Gualter Furtado, José Contento, Tomé Ribeiro Gomes, Osvaldo Cabral and Ermelindo Peixoto.

According to Rogério Sousa, the Açorian Institute of Culture intends that “Atlantida” be “a space of dialogue, confrontation of ideas and debate, free of any ties, whether ideological, sociological or political”.

Asked about the current challenges of autonomy, the president of the IAC defended the need to incorporate it into the experience of Azoreans.

“ The Azores are indeed a very pleasant place to live, connected with the world, but who still lacks this notion of what it is to be autonomous, of what it is not to extend their hand to Lisbon, because that is not what it is, it is not to beg situations of exclusivity for the Azores, it is to make use of a posture, a way of seeing the world and society different and adapted to our archipelagic reality. And this is only done when we feel that autonomy is part of us”, he said.

Rogério Sousa listed among the challenges the role of representative of the Republic for the Azores and the financial autonomy of the region.

“ At the end of these 50 years, we believe that much has been achieved, but that there is still much to be conquered and it is now also up to the younger ones to perpetuate this legacy ", stressed.

The Açorian Institute of Culture recently published a pocket edition of the Azores' Political and Administrative Statute and will soon launch an adapted edition for the younger ones.

He also intends to publish a second edition of the book “For an Autonomy of the Azores”, from 1979, with prefaces by Francisco Coelho and Eduardo Ferraz da Rosa.

“ The younger ones have an interest [for autonomy], but they need to have documents and themes accessible. And the truth is that only now, at the end of half a century, we also feel that there are conditions, temporal distance, intellectual and emotional serenity to analyze these questions, for the younger ones, who are those who will continue them and will redefine them and shape them for the future”, said Rogério Sousa.

The magazine “Atlântida” is launched on Sunday, at 15:00 (16:00 in Lisbon), at the Festival Aventura Vivo, which takes place at the Academy of Youth and Arts of Ilha Terceira, at Praia da Vitória, with presentation by Rogério Sousa and Álvaro Damaso.

The publication brings together comic books and illustrations with a graphic narrative by Marco Fraga da Silva and Fil, a study by David Fernandes da Silva dedicated to the art of former libris, and cultural reflection texts signed by Vítor Rua and Clara Macedo Cabral.

It also presents a photographic and perceptive look at memory and identity, signed by Adriano Miranda, André Pimentel and Jaime Ferreira Regalado, and pays homage to outstanding personalities, such as José Enes, Rodrigo Leal de Carvalho, Baptista de Lima and João Hermeto Coelho d’Amarante.

The magazine also includes essays on the work of Dias de Melo, Vitorino Nemésio, Vasco Pereira da Costa and António Avelar, signed by Susana L.M. Antunes, Victor Rui Dores, Onesimus Teotónio Almeida and Leonor Simas-Almeida.

For the second consecutive year, the illustration of the cover and separators is by Jorge Coelho.

After celebrating the 50th anniversary of April 25th, in 2025, and the 50th anniversary of Autonomy, in 2026, the “Atlantida” of 2027 will be dedicated to Açorianity, as part of the celebrations of the 600 years of the Azores.