Falling into history: a case for the restitution of Mbali tombstones and the revival of the realms of memory of the enslaved

Figures & data

Figure 1. Gilberto Freyre inspects a Mbali tombstone, c. 1951-52. Source: Gilberto Freyre, Em tôrno de alguns túmulos Afro-Cristãos de uma área africana contagiada pela cultura brasileira, Salvador: Universidade da Bahia, 1959.

Figure 2. Matacedo retrieves memories and dreams from old air conditioners. Source: Geração 80, Geração 80 Apresenta Ar Condicionado um filme de Fradique. See: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oyfUHbKe9ImfnMrKpfIY5izFl248na6_/view (accessed 2 December 2022).

Figure 3. Mbali graveyard formerly known as 'Cemitério Indígena de Moçâmedes', in present day Namibe. Source: Archive of the National Museum of Ethnology, Lisbon, series “Trabalhos de Capo Angola 1967 - António Carreira”, positive reproduction from the negative album “Negativos do dossier A-192 A-216”.

Figure 4. Mbali tombstone situated at the Saco do Giraúl graveyard. Source: Archive of the National Museum of Ethnology, Lisbon, series “Trabalhos de Capo Angola 1967 - António Carreira”, positive reproduction from the negative album “Negativos do dossier A-192 A-216”.

Figure 5. Mbali tombstone sculptured by Victor Jamba. It pays homage to a deceased kinswoman of the sculptor, who had been enslaved by João Duarte de Almeida. Source: Carlos Lopes Cardoso, A Arte Mbali, p 6.

Figure 6. Two Mbali tombstones, situated in the graveyard formerly known as 'Cemitério Indígena de Moçâmedes', in present day Namibe. Source: Archive of the National Museum of Ethnology, Lisbon, series “Trabalhos de Capo Angola 1967 - António Carreira”, positive reproduction from the negative album “Negativos do dossier A-192 A-216”.