The settlers of Portuguese Africa under the colonial regime and their displacement to Brazil in the post-independence period

Abstract

Thousands of Portuguese rural workers came to establish themselves in Brazil leaving Africa after the destruction of the Portuguese Empire in 1975. Also came to this country white people, born in Africa as well and called "old colonists" because they were associated with the Portuguese colonizers by the anti-colonizers, although they mostly considered themselves as Africans. In fact, most of them were articulated with the interests of Portugal, though many others were more connected to black and mestizos nationalists. These ones were defined also as the African category of "sons of earth", oriented to the cause of independence of the colonies. This paper analyses the fundamental political, ideological and identity tensions - individual and collective tensions - that emerged among "old colonists" and "new comers" since their life during colonial situation until their arrival in this country of adoption, Brazil.