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Marcelino dos Santos, 1929-2020
Dossier MZ-0033
Marcelino dos Santos, known in Mozambique simply as Marcelino, was born on 20 May 1929 in Lumbo near the Ilha de Moçambique in Nampula province. He went to school in Lourenço Marques and at the age of 18 moved to Portugal where he met Eduardo Mondlane, Agostinho Neto of Angola and Amílcar Cabral of Guiné. In 1950 Marcelino moved to Paris where he mingled with African intellectuals in a group centered on the journal and publishing house Présence Africaine, and published poetry under the pseudonym Kalungano. By 1961 he had joined UDENAMO (the União Democrática Nacional de Moçambique), and it was as an UDENAMO delegate that he attended the founding meeting of the CONCP (Conferência das Organizações Nacionalistas das Colónias Portuguesas) in Casablanca, Morocco, in April 1961. He was elected permanent secretary of the CONCP and took up residence in Rabat.
In June 1962 he was a participant in the founding meeting of FRELIMO in Dar es Salaam, but remained in Morocco working for the CONCP and heading Frelimo’s diplomatic efforts. In 1964, when the armed struggle started, he was already Frelimo’s secretary for external relations, and his speeches at the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations were critical in securing the liberation movement’s international recognition. He worked closely with Eduardo Mondlane until Mondlane’s murder, when he was elected a member of the Presidential Council with Uria Simango and Samora Machel. In April 1970 he became vice-president of Frelimo.
At independence in 1975 he was appointed minister of planning and development, but between 1981 and 1983 held no government appointment, working instead full-time for the Partido Felimo. In 1983 he was moved to Sofala, and in 1986 became the first president (or speaker) of the Assembleia Popular, which had previously been chaired by Samora Machel.
In retirement, Marcelino stubbornly adhered to Frelimo’s original political line, despite the formal abandonment of Marxist ideology. For example, in a television interview in September 2012 he expressed his disappointment that Mozambique had adopted a capitalist system, arguing that only Marxism-Leninism was able to solve the problems of poverty in Mozambique. He added that such figures as Lázaro Nkavandame, Joana Simeão and Uria Simango were traitors who had betrayed the people of Mozambique, and should continue to be considered as such. He died on 11 February 2020 at the age of 90.
A collection of his poems, Canto de Amor Natural, was published in Maputo in 1987 (see below).
Gallery
For a more extensive gallery of photographs of Marcelino, please click here.
Above: Marcelino in guerrilla uniform: the fabric was known a "pingas da chuva" or raindrops, from the pattern, and was made in the GDR.
Above: Two informal photographs of Marcelino dos Santos with his daughter Ilundi in 1968. Photographer: Augusta Conchiglia.
Above: On 4 October 2006, at the opening plenary session of the International Symposium on ‘Moçambique no Contexto da África Austral, da Independência ao Acordo Geral de Paz’, organised by the Centro de Documentação «Samora Machel» in Maputo, marking the 20th anniversary of Mbuzini, Marcelino was overcome by emotion and was unable to speak for several moments. Graça Machel left her seat on the podium and comforted him until he regained his composure and was able to continue.
MHN Resources
The Freedom Fighter, 1962-1975
◊ September 1962
Marcelino dos Santos. Speech. In: Frelimo. 1st Congress (Dar es Salaam, 23-28 September 1962), Documents. Paris: Comité de Soutien à l'Angola et aux Peuples des Colonies Portugaises, 1962, p.5. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 27 April 1974
Y. Madani. Une interview de Marcelino dos Santos: dix mille combattants entrainés demandent des armes. AfricAsia no.14, 27 April 1970, pages 20-21. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ October 1971
Boubaker Adjali. Interview with Marcelino dos Santos, vice-president of FRELIMO. Richmond BC: LSM Press, 1971. 15 pages. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 21 February 1972
Aquino de Bragança. Nous espérons bientôt isoler Cabora Bassa: une interview avec Marcelino dos Santos, vice-president du FRELIMO. AfricAsia no.60, 21 February 1972, pages 36-37. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 11 December 1972
Marcelino dos Santos. Une victoire des peuples africains. Déclaration exclusive. Afrique-Asie no.19, 11 December 1972, page 11. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 1973
Joe Slovo. FRELIMO faces the future. African Communist no.55, 1973, pages 23-53. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 20 August 1973
Aquino de Bragança. La IVe Conférence des Pays Non-Alignés: Marcelino dos Santos dénonce les carences de l’OUA. Afrique-Asie no.37-38, 20 August 1973, pages 30-32. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ June 1974
Marcelino dos Santos. Address by the FRELIMO delegation to the Sixth Pan-African Congress. African Review vol.4, no.2, 1974, pages 291-297. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 17 May 1975
Marcelino dos Santos. A luta da libertação tomará um grande incremento se Voster [sic] se recusar a reconhecer os direitos à liberdade do povo sul-africano. Expresso (Lisbon), 17 May 1975. Interview conducted in Amsterdam. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
The Politician, 1975-
◊ 17 March 1976
Suécia deseja prosseguir apoio ao povo moçambicano, salientou Vice-Presidente Marcelino dos Santos no jantar de homenagem a Gertrude [sic] Sigurdsen. Notícias, 17 March 1976, pages 3, 6. Gertrud Kristina Blixt-Sigurdsen (1923-2015) was a Swedish Social-Democratic politician who was at this time Minister of Aid in the Olof Palme government. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 4 April 1976
Cahora Bassa: uma espingarda nas mãos de um soldado da Frelimo é uma espingarda para libertar o povo e a terra. Tempo [Maputo], no.287, 4 April 1976, p.60-61. Transcript in Portuguese of a Swedish television interview with Marcelino dos Santos. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 229 kb.
◊ 9 September 1977
Marcelino dos Santos. Sem engajamento nem libertação cultural não há integração no real moçambicano: alocução de Marcelino dos Santos no ciclo de palestras dos preparativos do I Seminário Nacional de Informação. Notícias, 9 September 1977. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 17 October 1977
Marcelino dos Santos. A criação de condições para a planificação da economia tem uma importância fundamental na vida do nosso povo: Marcelino dos Santos na abertura do 1º Curso de Formação de Quadros para o Sistema de Planificação. Tempo no.369, 30 October 1977, pages 42-47. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 27 May 1979
Festejado 50º aniversário de Marcelino dos Santos. Tempo no.450, 27 May 1979, page 5. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 5 November 1979
Marcelino dos Santos. Em Moçambique nenhum trabalhador está autorizado a ter medo: Ministro Marcelino dos Santos na empresa FAMOL. Notícias, 5 November 1979. FAMOL is Farinhas de Moçambique Ltdª, a company manufacturing flour. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 26 November 1979
No Bairro Central, Ministro Marcelino dos Santos acompanhou recenseamento de ensaio: grandes avanços registados na maioria dos bairros. Notícias, 26 November 1979, pages 1, 4. Incomplete. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 4 May 1980
Mozambique. Newsfront International [Oakland, Calif.], no.236, May 1980, page 18. Translated from La Repubblica [Rome], 4 May 1980. Announces that Marcelino has been sacked as Minister of Planning. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 2 May 1980
Marcelino dos Santos. Década da vitória sobre o subdesenvolvimento. A principal força produtiva é o homem, detentor da sua força de trabalho: Marcelino dos Santos discursando ontem em Maputo nas comemorações do 1º de Maio. Notícias da Beira, 2 May 1980, page 2. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 15 May 1980
Marcelino dos Santos. Na luta contra o subdesenvolvimento, queremos fazer da LAM espelho da nossa vitória: discurso de Marcelino dos Santos na reunião com os trabalhadores da ex-DETA. Notícias, 15 May 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 26 June 1980
Marcelino dos Santos. Incremento da cooperação no contexto do CAME é factor importante para construirmos o socialismo: secretário do CC para a política económica do Partido na última reunião do CAME. Notícias, 26 June 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 1 July 1980
Marcelino dos Santos. Façamos do recenseamento da população uma vitoriosa ofensiva de classe: discurso de Marcelino dos Santos na abertura da IV Reunião do Conselho Coordenador do Recenseamento. Notícias, 1 July 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 4 July 1980
Marcelino dos Santos. Dia 1 de Agosto deve ser dia de grande festa popular: discurso de Marcelino dos Santos no encerramento da 4ª Reunião do Conselho Coordenador do Recenseamento. Notícias, 4 July 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 8 July 1980
Marcelino dos Santos. Devemos agir directamente, ligados às massas: discurso de Marcelino dos Santos no encerramento da II Reunião Nacional da Política Económica do Partido Frelimo. Notícias, 8 July 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 2 February 1981
No regresso de Bissau, Marcelino dos Santos chegou a Luanda. Notícias, 2 February 1981. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 27 February 1981
Saudamos a declaração da União Soviética de que Moçambique não se encontra só, afirma Marcelino dos Santos a jornalistas em Moscovo. Notícias, 27 February 1981. Transcription of a question-and-answer session. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 5 March 1981
Marcelino dos Santos. Construímos o socialismo, por isso somos alvo do imperialismo: Marcelino dos Santos no 26º Congresso do PCUS. Notícias, 5 March 1981. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 30 April 1982
Marcelino dos Santos. Tradição de luta dos nossos povos é a mesma: Marcelino dos Santos.na recepção aos parlamentares do Zimbabwe. Notícias, 4 May 1982. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 4 July 1982
Nós te chamamos pai da nação moçambicana: Marcelino dos Santos no elogio ao Presidente Samora Machel. Tempo no.612, 4 July 1982, pages 26-27. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 10 October 1982
Marcelino dos Santos. A luta de libertação foi a grande forja da unidade nacional: Marcelino dos Santos explica a I Tese ao IV Congresso. Tempo no.626, 10 October 1982, pages 11-14. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 24 October 1982
Marcelino dos Santos. Ser membro do Partido é estar na linha da frente em todos os combates: Marcelino dos Santos explica a II Tese ao IV Congresso. Tempo no.628, 24 October 1982, pages 19-23. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 19 December 1982
Celestino Jorge. Desorganizados não podem ter ideias: Marcelino dos Santos na Faculdade de Educação. Tempo no.636, 19 December 1982, pages 9-10. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 18 June 1983
Marcelino dos Santos orgulha Moçambique. Notícias, 18 June 1983. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 1 March 1984
Assegurar a defesa para vencer na produção: Marcelino dos Santos em entrevista à informação. Notícias, 1 March 1984. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 1 September 1984
Rogério Sitoe. Apesar das vitórias já alcançadas, não é ainda altura de repousar: Marcelino dos Santos, fazendo balanço de um ano de Direcção da Província de Sofala. Notícias, 1 September 1984. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 23 September 1984
Marcelino dos Santos. Ontem como hoje na linha da frente: Marcelino dos Santos fala de si. Tempo no.728, 23 September 1984, pages 16-21. Transcription of a radio talk. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 6 December 1984
Em Sofala, combate aos bandidos continua prioritário, diz Marcelino dos Santos. Notícias, 6 December 1984. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 8 December 1984
Marcelino dos Santos reúne com cooperantes. Notícias, 8 December 1984. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 16 December 1984
Marcelino dos Santos reúne com cooperantes. Tempo no.740, 16 December 1984. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 1985
Marcelino dos Santos and E. Drozdova. Devemos estar sempre prontos para defender a nossa revolução. Ásia e África Hoje, Moscow, no.1/85, 1985, p.72-73. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 1 January 1985
Marcelino dos Santos fala da conspiração contra o nosso país. Notícias, 1 January 1985. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 5 September 1985
Armindo Chunguana. Informação deve agir sobre a realidade: Marcelino dos Santos em reunião com trabalhadores do sector na Beira. Notícias, 5 September 1985. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 19 November 1985
[Marcelino accuses South Africa of continuing to support Renamo]. Radio report, 19 November 1985, from Summary of World Broadcasts. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 28 October 1986
Graveside vow to defend Mozambique. The Herald (Harare), 29 October 1986. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 28 October 1986
Marcelino dos Santos. Tua vida é história: elogio fúnebre lido por Marcelino dos Santos. Tempo, 2 November 1986, pages 20-30. Click here to view or download a PDF file of the Portuguese text. For an English translation see ‘Eulogy at Mozambican leader’s funeral: Samora Machel lives’, Summary of World Broadcasts no.ME/8403, 30 October 1986, pages B/2-B/6, here, or here to view or download ‘Funeral oration to His Excellency the President of the Frelimo Party and President of the People’s Republic of Mozambique, Marshall Samora Moisés Machel’, Mozambique News no.124, supplement, 28 October 1986, 13 pages.
◊ 3 August 1986
Marcelino dos Santos: um defensor incansável dos interesses do Povo. Notícias, 15 January 1987. Extract from Resolution 7/84 of the 15th Session of the Assembleia Popular, 3 August 1986, awarding Marcelino the decoration ‘Hero of Labour’. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 21 January 1987
Marcelino dos Santos. Reabilitação exige reforço da organização e disciplina: Presidente da Assembleia Popular, Marcelino dos Santos, no discurso de encerramento da 1ª sessão da 2ª legislatura. Notícias, 21 January 1987, page 3. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 22 January 1987
Mais mensagens para Marcelino dos Santos. Notícias, 22 January 1987. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 16 September 1987
Marcelino dos Santos. Ao banditismo armado responderemos com maior envolvimento no combate. Notícias, 16 September 1987, page 2. Speech to the Assembleia Popular. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 12 February 1988
Official says RSA murdered Samora Machel. Foreign Broadcast Information Service no.FBIS-AFR-88-029, 12 February 1988, page 6. In a speech in Beira, Marcelino accuses South Africa directly for the first time. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 3 April 1988
People’s army to step up Maputo’s defences. Sunday Mail, Harare, 3 April 1988. Report of speech to the Assembleia Popular. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 16 July 1988
Fizemo-nos gente com a Frelimo: Marcelino dos Santos em palestra. Tempo no.927, 17 July 1988, page 12. Short report on a lecture entitled ‘Formação da Frelimo e Preparação da Luta Armada’. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ May-June 1989
Margaret A. Novicki. Marcelino dos Santos: opening new fronts. Africa Report, May-June 1989, pages 21-23. An interview. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 10 May 1989
Marcelino dos Santos desmente Voz da América. Notícias, 10 May 1989. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 22 June 1989
Gulamo Tajú. Entrevista [com] Marcelino dos Santos. Maputo, Junho 22.1989. 3 pages. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 18 March 1993
Frelimo – ‘punish SA’. Cape Times, 18 March 1993. Marcelino as president of the Assembleia calls on the UN Security Council to punich support for Renamo. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ June 1993
Tony Hall. Let us fight peacefully. Africa South&East, June 1983, pages 14-15, 38. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 12 July 1993
Pademo culpa Marcelino dos Santos do impasse na libertação dos detidos. Século de Joanesburgo, 12 July 1993. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 25 June 1995
Marcelino dos Santos do Clube dos Marítimos no Cais do Sodré a fundação da Frelimo em Dar es Salaam. Notícias, no. especial, 25 June 1995, pages 42-44. Poor quality scan. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 25 June 1999
Pedro Nacuo. Marcelino dos Santos, precisa-se. Notícias, no. especial, 25 June 1999, page 8. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2001
Pelas atrocidades cometidas durante a guerra, Renamo deve pedir desculpas ao povo: Marcelino dos Santos, falando na Beira. Notícias, 14 February 2001, page 3. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
Kalungano, the Poet
◊ 1 September 1982
Marcelino dos Santos. Condições para mobilizar obreiros literários: discurso de Marcelinos dos Santos na abertura da Conferência Constitutiva da Associação dos Escritores Moçambicanos. Notícias, 1 September 1982. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 3 September 1982
Marcelino dos Santos. Encontramos caminhos para avançar na literatura: Marcelino dos Santos na recepção de encerramento da Assembleia constitutiva da AEM. Notícias, 3 September 1982. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 9 November 1984
Fatima Mendonça. Kalungano: pseudónimo de Marcelino dos Santos, Lumbo, 20/5/1929. Domingo, 9 November 1984, page 5. A short biographical note, also reprints the põem Canto do amor natural. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 2 June 1985
Para breve lançamento de livro de Marcelino dos Santos: novos autores moçambicanos no prelo. Domingo, 2 June 1985. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 23 June 1985
Gulamo Khan. Kalungano: o amor natural do nosso poder. Tempo no.767, 23 June 1985, pages 92-94. An interview. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 21 July 1985
Canto do amor natural: um sonho, uma estrela e um antúrio. Tempo no.771, 21 July 1985. Incomplete text. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 28 July 1985
Canto do amor natural. Tempo no.772, 28 July 1985, pages 41-43. Consists of an extract from the Gulam Khan interview, and a short text by Luís Patraquim. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 7-11 November 1989
Marcelino dos Santos. A luta pela liberdade é tradição dos escritores africanos. Tempo, 17 December 1989, pages 48-50. The first part of a speech to the founding congress of the Pan-African Writers’ Association (PAWA) in Accra, Ghana, in November 1989. The theme was African Unity; A Liberation of the Mind. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 7-11 November 1989
Marcelino dos Santos. É preciso preservar as línguas africanas. Tempo, 24 December 1989, pages 46-48. The second and concluding part of Marcelino’s speech to the founding congress of the Pan-African Writers’ Association (PAWA). Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 12 February 2020
Kalungano, 1929-2020: o eterno canto do amor à pátria. Notícias, 12 February 2020, page 2. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2020
Lucas Muaga. Marcelino dos Santos: um político que também escrevia versos. Savana, 14 February 2020, page 26. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 20 February 2020
AEMO ignorada nas exéquias de Marcelino dos Santos. Correio da Manhã, 20 February 2020, page 2. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
Obituaries and Tributes, 2020
◊ 12 February 2020
Marcelino dos Santos, 1929-2020: morreu o herói nacional. 12 February 2020. Notícias, page 1. Lead story. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 12 February 2020
Calou-se a inspiração do nacionalismo. Notícias, 12 February 2020, page 9. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 12 February 2020
Morreu Marcelino dos Santos, dirigente histórico da Felimo. Jornal de Angola, Luanda, 12 February 2020, page 12. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2020
[Depoimentos sobre Marcelino dos Santos]. Notícias, 14 February 2020, page 9. Tributes from Mozambican personalities. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2020
José Óscar Monteiro. Marcelino sempre: revisitando oitenta rosas vermelhas. Savana, 14 February 2020, pages 14-15. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2020
Associação Tchiweka de Documentação. Tributo: Marcelino dos Santos, 1929-2020. Novo Jornal, Luanda, 14 February 2020, pages 14-16. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2020
Armando Nhantumbo. O outro Marcelino. Savana, 14 February 2020, pages 2-3. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 14 February 2020
Raúl Senda. Marcelino dos Santos: socialista por natureza. Savana, 14 February 2020, page 6. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 15 February 2020
[Depoimentos sobre Marcelino dos Santos]. Notícias, 15 February 2020, page 9. Tributes from various personalities. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 17 February 2020
[Depoimentos sobre Marcelino dos Santos]. Notícias, 17 February 2020, page 9. Tributes from various personalities. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 18 February 2020
Elbon Pila. Marcelino dos Santos morreu, mas há revolução por fazer. Magazine Independente, Maputo, 18 February, page 3. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 18 February 2020
[Depoimentos sobre Marcelino dos Santos]. Notícias, 18 February 2020, page 9. Tributes from various personalities. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 18 February 2020
Velório de Marcelino dos Santos hoje na Praça da Independência. Notícias, 18 February 2020, page 1 lead. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 19 February 2020
Entregamos teu corpo mas tu ficas connosco. Jornal Moçambique, 19 February 2020, pages 3-6. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 19 February 2020
[Depoimentos sobre Marcelino dos Santos]. Notícias, 19 February 2020, page 9. Tributes from various personalities. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 19 February 2020
Comissão Interministerial Para os Grandes Eventos Nacionais e Internacionais (CIGENI). Proposta do programa da exéquias do Major-General (na Reserva) Marcelino dos Santos, Herói Nacional. Maputo: CIGENI, 19 February 2020. 6 pages. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 20 February 2020
[Depoimentos sobre Marcelino dos Santos]. Notícias, 20 February 2020, page 9. Tributes from various personalities. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 20 February 2020
Restos mortais na Praça dos Heróis: repouse em paz, Marcelino! Notícias, 20 February 2020, page 2. Mainly photographs. Click here to view or download a PDF file.
◊ 28 February 2020
Flora Gomes; Sol de Carvalho. Marcelino dos Santos em entrevista: Amílcar, Guevara, Palme, e Paulo VI. Savana, 28 February 2020, pages 14-16. Click here to view or download a PDF file.