Centenary of Noémia de Sousa evokes life and work of Mozambican poet

Pthe first black woman to be published in Mozambique, Carolina Noémia Abranches de Sousa Soares (1926-2002), better known as Noémia de Sousa, has left her mark on culture and journalism in Portuguese.

Born on September 20, 1926, in Catembe, Mozambique, and raised in the historic district of Maputo, it was there that he wrote his poems that exalt African values and denounce oppression, such as the famous poem “Let My People Pass”.

Persecuted by the International Police and State Defense (PIDE) for its activism and connection to liberation movements, Noémia de Sousa signed with the literary pseudonym Vera Micaia to circumvent the censorship of the New State. When he began writing his poems, he also used the initials N.S., although for personal reasons.

His writing focused on a very short period between 1948 and 1951, but his dispersed work eventually decisively influenced the future intellectual generations of his country.

Political persecution forced her into exile in Portugal in 1951, and later on a “jump” flight to Paris, France, in 1964.

The flight to Paris was due to the connection it had with the Centre for African Studies, whose meetings were held in the House of Aunt Andreza, aunt of the Santomense poet Alda Espírito Santo.

After his return to Lisbon, he dedicated his life to journalism. After working at ANI, he joined the Reuters agency in 1972, later moving to Portuguese news agencies ANOP (1982-1986) and Lusa (1986-2001), where he continued to work even after retiring.

In 2001, a collection of poems was published, which he wrote between 1948 and 1951, entitled “Black Blood”, by the Association of Mozambican Writers (AEMO), and was then reissued by Nelson Saúte in Mozambique and later released in Brazil by Kapulana.

In October 2024, the work won a French edition with the title ‘Sang Noir’, published by the publisher ‘Project’îles’.

To mark the date of its centenary, the Lusa agency will promote a tribute that will bring together former colleagues of profession, representatives of the Mozambican community and artists whose creation continues to be influenced by the author's work.

In addition to this initiative, Mozambican writer Nelson Saúte will launch a biographical work, entitled “If you want to know me – Noémia de Sousa: Literary biography”, which will be presented on September 1, in Brazil, by Kapulana, in September the Mozambican edition of the book will also be released and will be later presented, in Lisbon, on September 20.