Antonio Cardoso, one of Angola’s leading writers

LUANDA – Antonio Cardoso, one of the leading literary lights of Angola’s independence movement in the 1960s, has died of prostate cancer, Angola’s state-run media reports.

He was 73. Cardoso, best known for his 1961 book ‘Poems of Circumstance’, died in Lisbon, Angop reported.The Luanda-born poet and novelist was instrumental in establishing modern Angolan literature, said Adriano Botelho de Vasconcelos, the Secretary General of the Union of Angolan Writers.After World War Two he became a student activist and was arrested by Portugal’s secret police in Angola in 1959 and 1961 for his political activities.He was later transferred to the Tarrafal de Santiago prison in Cape Verde.After his release in 1974, Cardoso returned to Angola where he published a number of books about his experiences in prison and life during the colonial era.He was also elected to Luanda’s first provincial commission.Cardoso was the president of the former Democratic Movement of Angola (MDA) in 1975, and one year later joined the MPLA.His other books included ‘Panfleto’ (1979), ‘Poemas da Cadeia’ (1979) and ‘Economia Politica’ (1979).* Cardoso was buried at Luanda Alto das Cruzes cemetery on Friday.The ceremony was attended by the speaker of the Angolan Parliament, Roberto de Almeida, high ranking officers of the Angolan government, members of the ruling MPLA party and members of the Angolan Writers Union (UEA).Poems and messages of love to the motherland were read out at the occasion.- Nampa-Reuters-AngopCardoso, best known for his 1961 book ‘Poems of Circumstance’, died in Lisbon, Angop reported.The Luanda-born poet and novelist was instrumental in establishing modern Angolan literature, said Adriano Botelho de Vasconcelos, the Secretary General of the Union of Angolan Writers.After World War Two he became a student activist and was arrested by Portugal’s secret police in Angola in 1959 and 1961 for his political activities.He was later transferred to the Tarrafal de Santiago prison in Cape Verde.After his release in 1974, Cardoso returned to Angola where he published a number of books about his experiences in prison and life during the colonial era.He was also elected to Luanda’s first provincial commission.Cardoso was the president of the former Democratic Movement of Angola (MDA) in 1975, and one year later joined the MPLA.His other books included ‘Panfleto’ (1979), ‘Poemas da Cadeia’ (1979) and ‘Economia Politica’ (1979).* Cardoso was buried at Luanda Alto das Cruzes cemetery on Friday.The ceremony was attended by the speaker of the Angolan Parliament, Roberto de Almeida, high ranking officers of the Angolan government, members of the ruling MPLA party and members of the Angolan Writers Union (UEA).Poems and messages of love to the motherland were read out at the occasion.- Nampa-Reuters-Angop