Zeca Afonso: A life dedicated to liberty and popular power
The artist defended "ideas that are extremely noble like freedom and democracy" said the musician and promoter Manuel Jorge Veloso, a trusted friend of José Afonso, who accompanied him.
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos was
born in Aveiro, on August 2, 1929, he graduated with a degree in History and
Philosophy Sciences from the University of Coimbra, writing a thesis on
Jean-Paul Sarte in the early 60's after having already recorded the first
albums with Rui Pato and having worked with José Niza.
He taught in mainland Portugal, Angola and Mozambique until the Estado Novo dictatorship and colonial war led to his arrest by the PIDE, the political police of the regime. In 1968, he was banned from teaching in state schools, in which he
would only be reinstated 10 years after the revolution of April 25 that ended the dictatorship.
After "Baladas e
canções" (1964) and "Cantares do Andarilho" (1968), Zeca Afonso recorded
"Contos velhos rumos novos" (1969), "Traz outro amigo
também" (1970), "Eu vou ser como a topeira" ( 1972).
The album "Cantigas do Maio"
(1971) which includes the famous song "Grândola, vila morena" and the album "Venham mais cinco" (1973) with the song "Era um redondo vocábulo" were both
recorded in France, directed and produced by the musician and
composer José Mário Branco.
Published before the April 25, 1974 revolution, these
albums granted José Afonso the Casa de Imprensa Awards for best records and
best interpretation in consecutive years. This established the border between
Portuguese music "before José Afonso and after José Afonso " as
stated by his colleagues.
In the musician's career,
"Coro dos tribunais" (1974), "Com as minhas tamanquinhas"
(1976), "Enquanto há força" (1978), "Fura fura" (1979),
"Fados de Coimbra e Outras Canções" (1981), "Como se fora seu
filho" (1983) and the final original album, "Galhinhos do
mato" (1985) would follow suit.
From 1974 to 1975, he was involved in
popular movements. PREC - Processo Revolucionário em Curso [On-going
Revolutionary Process] "it was his passion", as reported by the José
Afonso Association's biography.
He performed for the soldiers of Lisbon's
Artillery Regiment on March 11th, 1975, partnered with LUAR - Liga de Unidade e
Acção Revolucionária [Unity and Revolutionary Action League], from Palma Inácio
to Camilo Mortágua, he supported Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho's presidential
candidacy in 1976 and Maria de Loures Pintasilgo's in 1986.
He played at the Printemps de
Brouges Festival in France, in 1982, the same year where the first symptoms of
the disease with which he died (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) began to
manifest.
In 1983, he was reinstated into the state
school system. On that same year, President Ramalho Eanes awarded him with the
Order of Liberty, an order that honer individuals that fought for democracy and freedom. However, the musician did not receive it as he refused to fill in
the form.
José Afonso passed away on February 23rd,
1987, at dawn, in the Setúbal Hospital. He was 57 years old.
Original Source: https://goo.gl/H7TD2E
Translated by: Luisa, Badriah, Daniela and Mariana.
Revised by: Luisa and Badriah.
Why I picked this topic? by Daniela
José Afonso, better known as Zeca Afonso, is, without any doubt, a reference for all the Portuguese people. His powerful lyrics are still in the memory of those who fought for freedom. That’s the reason why I decided to choose him for this post. It's been 30 years since he passed away, but he's still alive through his music. Zeca is one of the reasons why we are able to enjoy freely our culture and it would be unthinkable to speak of culture without referring to him. With great pride, we dedicate these little words to this great man.
Original Source: https://goo.gl/H7TD2E
Translated by: Luisa, Badriah, Daniela and Mariana.
Revised by: Luisa and Badriah.
Why I picked this topic? by Daniela
José Afonso, better known as Zeca Afonso, is, without any doubt, a reference for all the Portuguese people. His powerful lyrics are still in the memory of those who fought for freedom. That’s the reason why I decided to choose him for this post. It's been 30 years since he passed away, but he's still alive through his music. Zeca is one of the reasons why we are able to enjoy freely our culture and it would be unthinkable to speak of culture without referring to him. With great pride, we dedicate these little words to this great man.
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