9–10 October – “Liberdadi! Cape Verde 50 Years After Independence: Between Past, Present and Future”

Parma, 24 September 2025 – On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde’s independence, the University of Parma and the IULM University of Milan are organizing two days of academic discussions entitled “Liberdadi! Cape Verde

Parma, 24 September 2025 – On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde’s independence, the University of Parma and the IULM University of Milan are organizing two days of academic discussions entitled “Liberdadi! Cape Verde 50 Years After Independence: Between Past, Present and Future”, as part of the series “What Anthropologists Say Today.”

The initiative is part of the official celebrations for the anniversary and highlights the long-standing collaboration between CUCI – University Centre for International Cooperation and Cape Verde. It is also linked to WIDE – Widening International Didactics & Education, a joint project between the University of Parma and the Universidade Lusófona de Cabo Verde (ULCV), aimed at exploring the interconnections between environmental sustainability, socioeconomic development and the protection of natural resources, with a special focus on the Cape Verdean context. Last May, this project led to the International Conference on Climate Change and Environmental Education in Mindelo (São Vicente Island), opened by the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, José Maria Pereira Neves.

The two-day event will open on 9 October at 3 p.m. in Aula B, Plesso D’Azeglio at the University of Parma, with welcoming remarks by:

Michele Guerra, Mayor of Parma
Estevão Tavares Vaz, Ambassador of the Republic of Cape Verde to Italy
Simone Baglioni, Vice-Rector for Teaching
Maria Cecilia Mancini, Vice-Rector for International Relations and Mobility
Giovanna Rocca, Vice-Rector for Research, IULM University

The opening session will be concluded by Roberto Valentino, Director of CUCI, together with members of the conference’s scientific committee: Filippo Arfini, Osman Arrobbio, Martina Giuffrè, Michele Maccari, and Giacomo Pozzi.

The programme includes:

Round table “Cape Verde 50 Years After Independence: Memories, Practices and Imaginaries of Freedom”
Free screening of Hanami by Denise Fernandes (original language, Italian subtitles), followed by a discussion featuring Sara Martin (University of Parma)
Seminar “Doing International Cooperation in Cape Verde Today”
Workshop “Reflections and Lessons from Cape Verde”, based on the WIDE project and conducted by master’s students in Journalism, Editorial Culture, Environmental and Multimedia Communication, and Sustainable Food Systems Management
Screening of Canhão de boca by Ângelo Lopes (original language, English subtitles) followed by a debate “The Role of Women in the Liberation Struggles in Cape Verde”
Presentation of the book “Nessuna isola è un’isola” (LARES, 2023), in memory of Alberto Sobrero, edited by Martina Giuffrè and Giacomo Pozzi

All sessions will take place in Aula B, Plesso D’Azeglio (Via D’Azeglio 85), except the screening of Hanami, hosted at the Distretto del Cinema (Via Mafalda di Savoia 17/a).

On 10 October at 9:30 p.m., a free Cape Verdean music concert open to the public will be held at Giovane Italia (Via Kennedy 7), subject to capacity limits.

📎 Event poster: https://drive.google.com/file/d/187t0KnNPcrkCpw6jMc-MhqzJIiMWVb_V/view?usp=drive_link

9–10 October – “Liberdadi! Cape Verde 50 Years After Independence: Between Past, Present and Future”

Parma, 24 September 2025 – On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde’s independence, the University of Parma and the IULM University of Milan are organizing two days of academic discussions entitled “Liberdadi! Cape Verde

Archives