A massa a levedar: A imagem de Angola e Mocambique no Diário de Miguel Torga

KROUPOVÁ, Lenka. A massa a levedar: A imagem de Angola e Mocambique no Diário de Miguel Torga (A rising dough: The image of Angola and Mozambique in Miguel Torga´s Diary). In Conference (E)migrations, Transfers, Exiles : Crossbreedings and Dynamics of the City. 2015.

Basic information

• Original name: A massa a levedar: A imagem de Angola e Mocambique no Diário de Miguel Torga
• Name (in English): A rising dough: The image of Angola and Mozambique in Miguel Torga´s Diary
• Authors: KROUPOVÁ, Lenka.
• Edition: Conference (E)migrations, Transfers, Exiles : Crossbreedings and Dynamics of the City, 2015.

Other information

• Original language: Portuguese
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: Literature, mass media, audio-visual activities
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords in English: colonialism; colonial war; Angola; Mozambique; Diary; Miguel Torga
• Tags: kontrola_RIV
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

A nossa comunicacao pretende focar as impressoes da África, especialmente de Angola e Moçambique, que o autor capturou nas páginas do seu Diário, cultivado entre 1932 e 1994. Torga, que viveu a parte crucial da sua adolescencia no Brasil (1920-1925), a capinar, guardar o gado e apanhar café na Fazenda de Santa Cruz, Minas Gerais, que pertencia ao seu tio, estava especialmente sensível as condicoes de opressao, falta de liberdade, intolerancia e humilhacao. Nesta linha, destaca-se a corrente que Torga dedicou as reflexoes sobre o antigo Portugal Ultramarino, aos contrastes do presente de Portugal, as guerras que atormentam os territórios da África Portuguesa, bem como ao processo de descolonizacao. Uma importante parte desta vertente foi criada como reaçao a viagem a Angola e Moçambique que o poeta fez em 1973 em busca do mito dos Descobrimentos. Nao obstante, o sabor da viagem é acompanhado de uma profunda desilusao ante a falta de humanidade, respeito pela diferenca, e o convívio problemático entre os diferentes grupos étnicos e sociais. Por tanto, a partir da leitura das entradas diarísticas, esperamos fornecer indicacoes sobre o entendimento do processo de descolonizacao, respeito pela cultura e a transmissao de valores éticos vistos com os olhos do aclamado artista portugues.

Abstract (in English)

In our talk, we intend to reflect Miguel Torga´s impressions from his travel to Angola and Mozambique which the author captured in his Diary, cultivated between 1932 and 1994. Torga, who lived an important part of his adolescence in Brazil (1920-1925), weeding, herding cattle or picking coffee beans at his uncle´s farm, was especially sensitive to the conditions of oppression, lack of freedom, intolerance and humiliation. In this regard, we will see Torga pondering about the former Portuguese Empire, finding contrasts in the Portugal of his time, rejecting wars that plagued the territories of the Portuguese Africa, and commenting on the decolonization process. An important portion of this thematic strand was created during his trip to Angola and Mozambique in 1973 in search of the so called Discovery myth. However, he became progressively disappointed by the lack of humanity, respect for difference, and the problematic interaction between the different ethnic and social groups we found there. Therefore, we hope to provide hints about Torga´s understanding of the decolonization process, cultural respect and transmission of ethical values based on his diary entries.