The cancellation of a tribute to Virgílio Pires, a prominent Cabo Verdean writer, has sparked controversy in the country's literary community. The tribute was supposed to be part of the XIV Encontro de Escritores de Língua Portuguesa, an event co-organized by the Câmara Municipal da Praia and the event's organizers. According to José Eduardo Cunha, who proposed the tribute, the event's organizers failed to invite Pires' family and did not provide any information about the writer.
Virgílio Avelino Pires was born in Praia, Cabo Verde in 1935 and passed away in Lisbon in 1985. Cunha had initially proposed the tribute in 2015, but it was put on hold due to various reasons. In 2025, the proposal was revived, and Cunha expected the Câmara Municipal da Praia to take the necessary steps to honor Pires. However, Cunha claims that the vereador da cultura, Jorge Garcia, who was responsible for the event, failed to keep him informed about the progress of the tribute.
The tribute was supposed to include inscribing Pires' name in the toponymy of the city, specifically a street in the bairro da Achada de Santo António. The proposal had been accepted by the Câmara Municipal da Praia in 2015, but it was not implemented. Cunha expressed disappointment and frustration with the way the situation was handled, particularly with Garcia's lack of communication and transparency.
On October 8, the day of the tribute, the event's program listed a session dedicated to Pires, but it was not held. The organizers did not provide any explanation for the cancellation, and Cunha described the situation as "vergonhosa" (shameful). He also criticized the behavior of the President of the Academia Cabo-verdiana de Letras, Daniel Medina, who participated in the event despite being aware of the problematic circumstances.
Medina's decision to participate in the event was seen as a betrayal by Cunha, who expected the academic to take a stand against the flawed tribute. Medina's brief reference to Pires during the event was also criticized for containing errors and distortions about the writer's life and work. The audience, which included prominent figures from Cabo Verde's literary community, was criticized for their indifference and lack of reaction to the situation.
The failed tribute to Virgílio Pires has raised questions about the level of respect and recognition given to Cabo Verde's cultural heritage. Cunha's account of the events highlights a lack of communication, transparency, and accountability among the organizers and participants. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the importance of honoring the country's literary figures and the need for greater sensitivity and respect in such events.
The controversy surrounding the failed tribute to Virgílio Pires serves as a reminder of the importance of proper planning and execution of cultural events. It also underscores the need for greater accountability and transparency in the organization of such events. The incident has left a negative impression on the literary community and has raised concerns about the level of respect given to Cabo Verde's cultural heritage.
Key points
- The tribute to Virgílio Pires was cancelled without explanation, and the organizers failed to invite Pires' family or provide any information about the writer.
