Viriato de Barros

Correspondência com Salah Matteos

Salah Matteos é filho de cabo-verdianos imigrantes nos Estados Unidos, portanto um imigrante de segunda geração, nascido na região de Nova Inglaterra, região onde reside a comunidade cabo-verdiana mais antiga dos Estados Unidos. Esta comunidade constituiu-se a partir dos cabo-verdianos, sobretudo das ilhas Brava, Boa Vista, Fogo e São Nicolau, recrutados inicialmente como marinheiros pelos navios baleeiros americanos que demandavam as ilhas de Cabo Verde na rota da caça à baleia e que depois se fixaram nessa região dos Estados Unidos, trabalhando nas fábrica de algodão e na apanha de cranbury nos terrenos pantanosos onde crescem esses bagos. Salah Matteos nasceu precisamente na cidade de New Bedford, o porto histórico dos baleeiros, a cidade de referência dos cabo-verdianos com parentes emigrados para a América. Foi companheiro inseparável de Amílcar Cabral na sua digressão pela América, no esforço de aí mobilizar apoio à luta pela independência da Guiné-Bissau e Cabo Verde, dentro de um projecto de unidade entre os dois antigos territórios coloniais portugueses, tendo acompanhado aquele dirigente africano nas zonas libertadas da Guiné durante a luta de libertação. O que a seguir apresentamos é a sua participação num debate lançado no site do Centro de Estudos Multiculturais, sobre a questão da identidade cabo-verdiana, suscitado pelo extracto do livro “Identidade”, de autoria de Viriato de Barros, publicado no mesmo site, seguido de um outro debate, desta vez lançado por ele próprio, sobre “Amílcar Cabral e o comunismo”. Sobre a forma como conheceu Amílcar Cabral, permitam-me transcrever a seguir o seu próprio testemunho:

My Dear Brother.
I first heard about Amilcar Cabral from Malcolm X who met him in Egypt, at that time I was a member of the (OAAU) Organization of African American Unity after the OAU, Organization of African Unity. Then there was a dear friend Rev. Muhammad Keyatta from Philly. I was Director of the African Desk for The Black Economic Development Conference (BEDC).
I bought the book [Unity &Struggle] by Amílcar Cabral and that became my Bible. I went on radio program WDAS & WHAT talking about what Cabral had said about Portuguese colonialism. I was also involved with Frelimo, with Brother Khan and with Mohammad Babu of Tanzania with Malcolm X. In 1969 I was able to convince the Episcopal Church in Philly to give me a grant to go to West Africa. Bishop De Witt was the bishop at the time. I was very much involved in the Black Power struggle. No one knew that I was a CV. The rest is history. I stayed with a friend Mamadou Dia from Senegal who graduated from University of Pa; he became advisor to Leopold Senghor President of Senegal. He now works for the World Bank. There is much more to the story. Mamadou Seck, who was ambassador from Senegal, help me out a lot at the time he was Captain Seck in the Senegalese Air Force.

Salah

Adenda de Salah Matteos à informação anterior:

What most people don't know how much trial and tribulation I went through travelling in Senegal from Dakar to St Louie, to Lugar, to Thies, into the desert of Mataam, into Mauritania, to Cassamance, and every other little village looking for Cabral. I was a man on a mission. I spent several months in Gambia from Banjul to Bakao and some names which I have forgotten. All alone in a strange land which I knew nothing about. In Gambia I finally met a young man named Eugénio Texeira Spain who worked at MosDolly Pharmacy in Banjule, who was a militant of PAIGC and after much conversation he made it possible for me to meet with Louis Cabral at the edge of Cassamance at the border. Then I was taken to see the reality of the arm struggle in the bush. The hardship I had to endure is a story in itself. When I went to Africa from Philadelphia I weighed 175 pounds when I came back to the States I was 128 pounds. I am not sure of all the dates but I also met with Abílio Duarte in Guinea, and he schooled me in the working of our struggle and PAIGC and sent me back as the 1st Responsible of PAIGC to America. He said I was the only American born who came to Africa and spent time looking for them. There is too much to tell so I won't try. When Cabral was assassinated I was devastated to say the least, but my mission was accomplished by my ability to organize CV & African Americans and other Americans to our cause. I went on every radio station and TV and spoke at every college and church that would let me in.

When in fact I met my first good contact in the States it was an American CV/Waupanog Indian in the Park by the name of George Tobey who in turn helped me to meet a brother Vernon Sousa in Boston who was the founder of III Pyramids with office in Duxbury, Mass. There for the first time I met with Tony Gonsalves and Ben Fernandes. These CV's were militants and involved in the civil rights movement in South Eastern Massachusetts. Helping poor people especially CV’s and other poor Americans. This is what I needed to make my base of operation. I spent hours, days and nights teaching these brothers and helping to make them cadres for our movement. They knew nothing about Amílcar Cabral or PAIGC or the struggle of the liberation movement. I made it possible for Tony through my work as a militant of PAIGC to understand what we were up against. Tony had a car he drove me to Oxford, Pa to go meet Cabral who was speaking at Lincoln University. We met Cabral and that is another story to tell. A picture was taking of Cabral, Tony and me, interesting enough, when we got the photo someone cropped me out of the picture, there was a blank of white in the place I stood next to Cabral, I never found out who did it and why it was done but today Tony has that picture of him and Cabral without me. When one sees the photo it looks like Tony Gonsalves met Cabral and not I. Interesting, that picture appeared in the Fandata Magazine, and many pictures of Tony when he went to Guinea. I won't go there. Some say CIA cropped me out to try to make a split between myself and Tony. Other speculate that Tony may have tampered with the photo. I saw the handwriting on the wall and I never made it an issue. The unity for our work was much bigger than a photo. Of course today I wish that had not happened because I was cut out and that is history. Later on the party sent people clandestine to stay with us at the home of Ben Ferenades in Marsfield, Mass. Abílio Duarte, Silvino da Luz and others. I must not forget to tell you Gil Fernandes who was travelling with Cabral when he came to the States was sent to check us out in Duxbury, Mass, spent a few days. I also met with Cabral and Gil Fernandes in New York and spent several days with him in New York and went to many places in which Cabral spoke. I was the only one that was with him. In the back of the book ‘Return to The Source’ you will see my name Salahudin Matthews I was at that meeting when Cabral spoke to all the major African American movements that had militants in there own right for some cause or another. Van Leirop of the AIS was responsible for that large meeting with many leaders. I should also note that (Jota Jota) João José Silva came and stayed with us in New Bedford for a long time; Jota Jota, born in Fogo, had parents who lived in the Boston area not far from St Patricks church. I studied everything I could get my hands on about Cabral & the PAIGC movements and I was very good at what I did; and I salute the Brothers & Sister's of III Pyramids who became strong cadres and obedient to the discipline of the Party and Cabral’s thoughts, and today we can see the results of our team work and our efforts. Without them it would have been a much more difficult work for me. Thank Deus that there was such a movement by the Caboverdean brothers and sisters. They should get much recognition, which is long overdue.

Cabral Ka Moure.
No Pintcha!!!!
One for all and all for one
A simple Caboverdean African American Man doing what was right from the love and for the love of his people. We remember our grandparents and the hardship they suffered both in Cabo Verde and in the USA or any place else is the diaspora.

We are on the road to recovery and we will be second to none.
Education and enlightenment, unity, integrity, honesty with dignity.

Manu-Salah
Reality & Actuality
D.E.U.S.
Dialectic-Eclectic-Universal-Science.
Discipline, Enlightenment, Ubiquitous, Salvation.
Salvation only means to protect from harm.

There is a big story to tell from Mamadou Dia in terms of what we have done together both in the States and in Africa.
He received his degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Economics in Philadelphia. If by chance there was some way for you to speak with him he can tell you much about me. He has a home in Dakar, and the last I heard he was working in some capacity with the World Bank. I am sure every one in Dakar will know about him.
Also when I met Captain Seck who later on became General Seck then ambassador to the USA. He can tell you quite a story; he is the one who helped me to escape into the woods and rural areas, to be on my way to meet with militants of the party, that is one part of the saga in my journey. Lateef Droury who was a tax collector who lived in Lugar on the edge of the desert, who was married to an African American peace core worker was also very helpful… In Gambia a writer by the name of Ousano Njiah who also worked for the Gambia Bank was very helpful along with a police officer from Bakao named Julde Jallow. Also a very dear person, Dr. Sambar who operated on me to perform a circumcising, so that I would be accepted into the Fulani Tribe and among the Muslims, who I spent a lot of time with. Yes it did hurt. This was done at The Queen Victoria Hospital in Bathurst (Banjul) Gambia. That is one of the price I paid to show my honesty and sincerity to the people of that compound.

When I left Philadelphia, Pa, I had a round trip ticket and $400.00 in cash as a stipend from the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal headquarters is at Ritten House Square in Philly. I was only to stay in Africa for 45 days but since I had not made contact with anyone I turned in my ticket and stayed until I did. By this time, all my money ran out and the American clothes I had the Africans were wearing them, as payment for food and shelter and I was wearing their clothes. I even gave away my camera and my wrist watch as some sort of payment. There were times I was all alone in some place, not knowing where in the hell I was, but sooner or later I would run into someone who would help me out. I spent many nights sleeping under a Baboa tree, not really sacred, but wondering at every movement or sound, thinking wild animals were going to get me. You know, from America my mind was Africa and the Tarzan movies. I prayed a lot.

Perhaps this will get your imagination to working and stimulate your thoughts about a young man who was obsessed with finding Cabral and being a Freedom Fighter nothing could deter me from this mission. I was determined, resolute and maybe sometimes a little bit dumb in my persistence.
Cher'no Salahudin Omowali Matteos (Cher'no is the title the Muslim Cheiks and Marabous gave me.
Manu-Salah

I did not get into pictures because I was on a clandestine mission and I did not want the wrong people to know; and I try my best to fit in and blend with the people. There was a few times I was bold and corky, that was the American in me and that Fire from the Island of Djha-Fogo & Djha-Brava.

18.11.2002

Hi Viriato.

This is Salah your friend from US. We spoke for a moment at the Common Threads Conference in New Bedford last month. I saw your home page, unfortunately I can't read Portuguese.
Something did catch my eye in English. Man what are you? Let me give you my argument. I have for years been in the vanguard movement in terms of African American Identification. I don't like the idea of reference being made by the skin color of a person such as saying I am Black. Black is beautiful so are all the other colors.

I think that to use color as an identity is to play into the hands of the racist by this color code system. We are an African people and we come from many different countries with names such likes of Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Cabo Verde, Morocco, Guinea, Tunisia, etc. Black is not the name of any of the countries, we are to be known by the name of the nation we are from. Not by the color.

This is only a western idea based on their premise of racism. I can accept that I am African but I am not black I am brown, and many are much lighter then both of us such as those from Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and some others. Mostly we find that “black” is used by the South Africans and the Americans and the Europeans. This does not make it correct. I also don't like the idea of using white to identify Europeans or Caucasians for that matter. To say one is black or white does not tell us who they are, and there are many shades in between. Even we have some people in Africa or in South America who are very fair, who are not Europeans. Take for example people from India, many who are much darker then you and I when they come to the USA they are not called black.
This idea of classification by color is very racist produced by Europeans in terms of making one inferior or superior to the other. Each nation has its own culture and its own particulars.

If a person says to me I am white that does not tell me anything or that I am black; it is a misnomer.
Now when in fact we go to the dictionary we can see what their intentions were. Let us remember the folks were brought from Africa as slaves they came from different countries from different tribes or clans that had great meaning of their roots. Let us not accept the meaning of the European racist, but let us return to our source as suggested by Amílcar Cabral (Abdel Djhassi), a simple African man.

I know the difficulty that the so-called Negro has about this. In years past to call a Negro an African was to insult him.
Then, when affirmative action was put into place to get money, the reference was made to be Black, but also in the 60's when we called for Black Power in opposition to White Power, the American Europeans and of course the Boers of South Africa who are of the same family tree and roots had the same legitimacy of superiority based on color. There is more to be said, but I hope that you are convinced of my argument based on science and reality. The Europeans have used this method very successfully to divide our people.

In Cabo Verde we know that we are a kaleidoscope of humanity. Cabo Verde is very mixed a mestico or mullato if you will. We are Cabo Verdeans by choice of what the archipelago was named, but we are of so many mixtures with so many complexions. We don't want to be separated by color, we are Caboverdeans.
Take what ever color you choose and we hope you are happy with your choice. On the other side of the coin what were these many peoples before; from Africa what tribe, from Portugal what clan, from other parts of Europe and from India, from South America, far away as Asia. Can we say that Caboverdean are black or white or brown even olive that is not important. We are a Caboverdean people, but Cabo Verde is West Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, but it does not mean that all Caboverdeans are of African origin.
Just something for you and your friends to think about. Ha Ha.
With love for all humanity.
Peace.

Salah O. Mateus, aka (Mutabani Wa Kintu Katonda) Bantu

20.11.2002

Self-introduction of Salah Mateus

I AM CHER'NO SALAH, Born 6/29/33, New Bedford Mass.

The people who are called Caboverdeans are made up of many different human species, from Europe, Africa, Asia, India, South America. From Europe it would be Portuguese that would also be the mixture of people that make up Portugal, such as the Moors and many other native tribes in North Africa such as the people from Libya, Mauritania all along the Mediterranean Sea, Romans, Spain and of course the people from the North. Portugal is a mixed people. When Portugal became a power in its own right, they also mixed with many other different tribes from Africa and the Middle East.
The people who became known as Caboverdeans are a mixed people, mixed with the people of Portugal & many different tribes from Africa and the Middle East and some from far away as China. Portugal was a great empire and people of the sea. Why the archipelago was called Cabo Verde? We can only say that the Portuguese sailors named it after a place in Senegal, which is a peninsula called Region du Cap Vert between Rufisque and Dakar, as a point of reference for the navigators.

In order to save all the argument whether the people are African or not is not so important. What is important: by choice the Republic of Cabo Verde has made it clear they are of the African identity; but that is not to say all the people of Cabo Verde are Africans. We belong to the African continent; being Caboverdean is a misnomer but we are people made up by many nations and tribes. Some Caboverdeans have family in Africa that go back to a particular tribe. Some Caboverdeans have families in Portugal or in France, and some in Syria and Brasil and some in Holland. They choose to be called Caboverdeans & they are of the human beings of our planet. In Cabo Verde we speak of only two kinds of people that is male and female.
We are proud to say as all the historians and scientist say that Africa is the mother of civilization. We do not choose to get involved in the color code system of the racist. We are of this planet earth we hope we can make economic progress and make a contribution to all humanity because we are humanity. We are a beautiful garden; take your pick on what hue or complexion you want we just hope that you will be happy with your choice. What has color got to do with it?
I would like to bring something to your attention: the word Africa is an old Arab word Afrake which means to divide and that is what they did. Divide us. All of us. What was the continent called before the Arabs did Afrake?

I would like to bring something else to your attention; one of the ancient names of the archipelago called Cabo Verde was called by many of the elders AZIJAH that is in part African Arab tongue. AZIJAH means the mighty Power of God. The prefix Aziz means Power or the Precious of God. The Djah or Jah or Dia means God or Allah or Deus all are the same. Jah is the suffix. The two words together form AZIJAH, which again is to say The Mighty Power Of God or the PRECIOUS of God. The Creole (pidgin) is Guinea Arab Africa, Portuguese and other variables in terms of other languages. For example the late Dr. Amílcar Lopes Cabral (aka) was ABEL-Djassi or Djhassi, which meant the servant or God, Abel meaning servant and Jah in its variables meaning God or Deus or Allah as you wish.
Now all that being said, which certainly leaves room for debate I am sure. What do you all think on the subject?
Well as all of you know that Cabo Verde was colonized for 500 years by Portugal and the biggest influence was by the Roman Catholic Church and the dictator of both the church and the fascist government of Portugal. This will be our next topic. Well my dear friends here we are the year 2000 moving and moving on.

Cabo Verde and its people are going through a lot of changes since independence. From PAIGC to PAICV and MpD. Do some research? Looks like the MpD, which is the movement for democracy, has in their form of democracy sold everything back to the Europeans. It does not take long for the forces of Neo-colonialist to run their game in terms of privatization and economic progress for the rich and the bourgeois. What's new? Yes of course there has been development; but who is taking the cash out of the country? you got it, the Europeans. Who is left in poverty and more misery? You got that right again.
Don't give up hope. The people are seeing the light. Is it to late? No, it is never to late. PAICV is making a definite come back. We got Nho Lobo on the run. Oh for those who don't know who is Nho Lobo: he is the wolf who preys on the people with stories of making things better.

Amílcar Cabral is back on the rise the spirit is coming alive in our youth and in our people. Run those crooks into the sea. Tell no lies and claim no easy victories. Unidade e Luta.
Well my dear friends as I have said sooner or later there was going to be a change and here we have it. Paicv is back in control; that is the party that is most common with the ideas of the late Dr. Amílcar Cabral (Abel-Djassi).
Time does bring about a change. The question now is have we learned from our past mistakes? What will we do different to bring about the unity of the Caboverdean people in the wide world community of Caboverdean people?
Unless the government of Cabo Verde make an all out effort to find the correct mode of operation to guide and to educate the people with the proper information for their enlightenment, that is to say very clear who we are, where have we been, where do we intend to go and how will we do it for the advancement of the country and the unification of all the people.
We do strongly recommend that a Caboverdean critique of our cultural thought and history in terms of our humanity will be such that we take the best of what is, and make the best of what was, so that we give to the world a new way to see the development of humankind.

Certainly we want the best for our economic, social and cultural development, we also want to make the strongest contribution for Africa. We realize Africa has many problems and we cannot resolve them all; especially when we have so many problems of our own. Every African country must deal with its own set of problems but we can work together in many areas and give support to each other.
Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Gambia, Conakry Guinea and other West African states can begin by making a greater effort for unity and economic progress.

We think that Cabo Verde will make an excellent place to have a University that will serve Africa as a model for education, democracy and unity. Why? Because Cabo Verde does not have the problem of tribalism and we have the ability to speak several of the official languages of Africa, and if the effort by the other African countries would make the contributions, we can bring students from other African states and educate them so they will return to their individual countries with a unity of purpose to break down tribalism and regionalism and that purpose will serve each country and in the long run. The Organization of African Unity will be strengthen for the purpose of its charter.

Our principles are to be universal and democratic and with equality for all individual rights and liberty guaranteed for all.
Our African scientist and their fellow colleagues and friends around the world can develop the best ways for the health and welfare of the African people. The cultivation of agriculture and land preservation and water conservation. How to bring fresh water to the countries that need it. Without water there is no life. We must develop the science agronomy and all areas of agrology: this was a theme that was proclaimed by Dr. Amílcar Cabral and others. We have a big task ahead of us but we know it can be done.

Salah Mateus on Cape Verdean identity:

Informação actualizada a