Tarrafal Museum: Families Demand Post-1974 History Inclusion
Relatives of former detainees are demanding that Cape Verde acknowledge a “hidden” chapter in the history of the notorious Tarrafal concentration camp. A group of signatories has presented a petition to the Presidency, alleging that the site’s current museum deliberately omits the stories of those imprisoned during the country’s volatile transition to independence.
A Gap in Historical Memory
The Tarrafal camp, now home to the Museum of Resistance, is widely known for its role as a brutal Portuguese colonial prison. However, the petition highlights recently published historical research showing that dozens of Cape Verdean citizens were detained and sent to the camp between December 1974 and July 1975—months after the Portuguese colonial regime had officially released its prisoners.
According to the statement released by the Presidency on Friday, these detainees were held during the political transition period without judicial convictions, and in many cases, without any formal charges being filed against them.
“Memory Cannot Be Selective”
The petition argues that the current narrative at the museum—which is currently being nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status—is incomplete. “Historical memory cannot be selective nor built upon silences,” the document states, urging the government to acknowledge this post-1974 period.
Historically, Tarrafal is remembered for incarcerating over 500 people under the Portuguese dictatorship, resulting in 36 documented deaths, including 32 Portuguese, two Guineans, and two Angolans. The petitioners argue that while this colonial history is vital, the subsequent use of the facility by transitional authorities must also be brought to light.
President Pledges Action
Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves received the signatories and has committed to taking action. He promised to forward the submission to the institutions responsible for managing the museum and its historical content.
The President advocated for the creation of “spaces for technical and museological dialogue” to evaluate how the museum can include contextualized information regarding the camp’s use during the 1974–1975 transition. The move signals a potential shift toward a more comprehensive and transparent accounting of Cape Verde’s journey to statehood.
Image: Pexels – Nico Marín
