Vocalizar a ferida: a ‘memória poética’ da comunidade afrodescendente portuguesa

Taking into consideration the recent emergence of Afrodescendant literature in Portugal and the ongoing literary criticism debate surrounding its delineations, this article engages in an analysis of its poetic production through the concept of ‘poetic memory’. Poetic memory constitutes a politically charged remembrance endeavour, seeking to elucidate the enduring ramifications of the colonial legacy through the act of composing poetry. The poetry collections by Yara Nakahanda Monteiro and raquellima, along with the collaborative project Djidiu – A herança do ouvido, notably awaken the ghosts of Afrodescendant postmemory. They establish a bridge between the timeless echoes of historical violence and the complexities of identity concerns. These texts underscore the potential for vulnerability and memory to evolve into both individual and collective healing practices through the medium of poetry and its vocalization. Through the invocation of the colonial past and its enduring spectral presence, this poetic production accentuates the urgency, for Portuguese society, to assume responsibility for this historical legacy.