UNDER THE GAZE OF THE LAST MOON

THE MEMORY OF AMÍLCAR CABRAL IN THE WRITING OF MÁRIO LÚCIO SOUSA

Abstract

This article investigates the narrative structure and discursive resources employed by Mário Lúcio Sousa in A última lua de Homem Grande (2022), with an emphasis on the affective memory surrounding the figure of Amílcar Cabral. The novel reconstructs, through an introspective narrative, the final moments of Cabral’s life, establishing a dialogue between past and present. In this way, the work explores how memory, infused with affection and emotions, redefines the historical figure of the leader, revealing not only the political aspects of his struggle but also the personal and affective dimensions that shape his memory. It can be said that, through the ontological shift developed by the author, which moves the historical event into the fictional narrative, narratives that challenge or complement the history of Amílcar Cabral’s death are perceived and problematized. Thus, the unwritten history is reworked by the writer, making it possible, through literature, to offer a new perspective on the so-called official narratives.