Children of Empire

The Portuguese Empire was the longest of all European Outremer empires, lasting nearly 6 centuries (1415-2002). 

There are three different dates for the fall of the Empire: 

1. De facto end: 1975, when the Portuguese colonies proclaimed, at the same time, their independence and/or saw it being recognized by Portugal (except Macau).
2. De jure end: 20th of December of 1999, when Macau – the last territory under the Portuguese administration – was returned to the People’s Republic of China.
3. Real de jure end: 2002, when Portugal recognized the sovereignty of East-Timor, upon its liberation from the Indonesian occupation. 

Yet the most painful of all was the de facto end, in 1975. 

The decolonization process was poorly done (among many things: the rights of the citizens that lived in African territories, and considered themselves Portuguese, were not clear in the decolonization agreement; Portugal failed to offer collaterals against the properties that its citizens owned in African [so after the decolonisation many lost all their possessions and returned to Portugal empty handed]; and they passed on the government of the territories to unprepared people, without setting up a transitional government, ignoring thus the consequences of such a reckless act). 

Portugal let down the Children of its empire. 

The soldiers that fought in the overseas war

These children of the empire fought to defend their nation’s imperialistic sovereignty; came back defeated, with psychological and physical scars and, what did Portugal do? It didn’t give them any support; it didn’t recognise their job, their sacrifices, their patriotic duty; it didn’t even compensate them as it has been promising for years – they will die and still not see a dime.

The African assimilated

These children of the empire that were forced to sing the Portuguese national anthem (many without even having visited Portugal, ever), the anthem of the “Mocidade Portuguesa” (the Portuguese Youth – a fascist youth association, to which all had to belong), any anthem that Portugal would come up with; that were forced to know the rivers, the railway tracks, roads and all the Royal Dynasties of Portugal (by heart); that were “encouraged” to lead a more European life-style, since it was more civilised...when arriving to Portugal, after the decolonisation, had to go through a naturalisation process even though they had documents stating that they had been Portuguese all their lives. 

The Portuguese who lived in Africa

These children of the empire lost everything they had built in the African territories, and by decree of the vengeful new African leaders they had to leave the countries (where many had grown up in) in 24 hours, being allowed to carry only 20kgs of all their possessions – this operation was called 24/20. Upon their arrival to Portugal they were labelled as “Os Retornados” (the returning ones), and classified as second class citizens. 

Interestingly enough they (along with the assimilated) were the ones who cleaned and developed Portugal (for when they arrived there, Portugal was a pitiful country whose capital was surrounded by slums – which didn’t exist in their African nations prior to 1975 – and didn’t have high buildings, which existed already, for example, in Mozambique).

The Children of the children of the empire

They grew up listening to how despicable Portugal was in 1975-1977; how in Africa Coca-cola existed for ages (Mozambicans were called “The Coca-colas”), and Portugal ignored what it was all about (note: it only had Coca-cola in 1984); and how socialism had ruined the work of their parents in the African territories “Yes, they deserved their independence; but not like it was done!”...

These kids have a mix of love and hate for Portugal. Love because they know nothing else but their own country; and hate because of what it did to their parents. 

The Portuguese way of dealing with the decolonisation

Anyone questioning it is a fascist. Not to teach it in our schools, thus proving to not have pride in its History. To Hope that everyone will obliterate it as time goes by. 

However the Children of the Empire will never let the Portuguese dark page of history die. They will pass it on to their children, the children of their children and the children of their children’s children.

Heroes of Sea, Noble People!

Lyrics & translation

For further reading on this subject please beam over to LS' blog: Here.