Cape Verde Inmates Publish Historic First Book of Stories
In the quiet courtyard of Praia’s central prison, 34-year-old Nickson Tavares reflects on a life-changing milestone. He is one of 47 inmates who have broken their silence to author “Voices Speak From Behind the Bars” (Vozes Falam Por Trás Das Grades), the first book ever written by prisoners in Cape Verde.
The collection of short stories and reflections offers a raw, unfiltered look at the lives of those serving time. For many, it has transformed from a simple writing exercise into a pathway for redemption and a newfound career ambition.
Rewriting the Narrative
For Nickson, who is serving a nine-year sentence and is just months away from release, the project provided a chance to confront his past. He chose to write about his final day of freedom—the last conversation he had with his family before his arrest.
“This project changed my way of looking at life,” Nickson told Lusa. “It was like a seed planted in me that is now bearing fruit. I already have ten book titles in mind and three are already finished.”
The emotional impact has reached far beyond the prison walls. Nickson’s mother, moved to tears by his writing, told him she finally feels proud of him again. Now, he dreams of becoming an internationally recognized author.
The Two Sides of the Story
Portuguese national Ana Rita Lopes, 45, joined the project to challenge the stigma that follows those with a criminal record. Serving a three-year sentence, the literature graduate says society often labels inmates based on headlines and social media posts.
“I was finally going to have the opportunity to tell the story from behind the bars, which is the true story,” she said. Having survived a life of domestic violence and displacement, she has already completed her own 155-page manuscript titled “A Woman Imprisoned in São Martinho.”
A Tool for Rehabilitation
The initiative, which began in 2021, aims to promote social reintegration in a country with a prison population of approximately 2,000 and a 25% recidivism rate. For inmates like 33-year-old Cleiton Costa, who learned to read and write while incarcerated, the project has been life-altering.
“I was involved with drugs and drinking. It wasn’t easy,” Costa admitted. “But now I want to change because I write every day.”
Project coordinator Lena Marçal believes the power of the pen is unmatched in the rehabilitation process. Many participants, she noted, came from broken homes or lost parents early in life, leading them toward crime. “Literature and writing are very powerful and transformative weapons for human beings,” Marçal said, advocating for the project to expand to other islands in the archipelago.
Influencing Future Policy
Odair Pedro, Cape Verde’s Director-General of Prison Services and Social Reintegration, hailed the book as a historic achievement. He noted that documenting these personal trajectories does more than help the inmates; it provides the government with vital insights to help shape future crime prevention and public policies.
As these 47 voices find their way to the public, the message from behind the bars is clear: while their pasts are set in stone, their futures are still being written.
Image: Pexels – RDNE Stock project
