João Cleofas Martins, his nickname Djunga Fotógrafo (28 August 1901 in the island of São Vicente–27 August 1970 in Mindelo, São Vicente) was a Cape Verdean photographer and author.

Biography

He was born in the island of Sāo Vicente, just shortly after

Sergio Frusoni Sergio Frusoni (August 10, 1901 – May 29, 1975) was a poet and promoter of the Cape Verdean Creole language. Biography Sérgio was born in Mindelo on the island of São Vicente, the son of Italian immigrants Giuseppe Frusoni and Erminia Bon ...

. His father came from the island of

Brava Brava or La Brava may refer to: Geography *Brava, Cape Verde, a volcanic island *Brava, Costa Rica, an island of Costa Rica (Isla Brava) *Costa Brava, a coastal area Mediterranean of northeast Spain *Barawa, a town in Somalia commonly known as '' ...

and he lived most of his life in

Mindelo Mindelo is a port cityCabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook ...

on the island of São Vicente. He was one of a few Cape Verdean

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

s who criticized the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government ...

of the second Republic of

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

. He worked at the

Western Telegraph Company Western may refer to: Places * Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western world, countries that ...

(now Western Union), he went to Lisbon in 1928 and took part in photography. He founded "Foto Progresso" in Mindelo back home in 1931. He had taken pictures mainly around the island, one of the most important photos was

Lajinha Lajinha is a municipality in the northeastern part of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The population is 19,918 (2020 est.) in an area of 431.92 km². The town borders the state Espirito Santo to the east. Neighboring municipalities * Chalé ...

taken in 1938. He dedicated all of his life to the children's home at the ol
Albergue de S. Vicente
(now Lar de Nhô Djunga). As

, he was a

chronicler A chronicle ( la, chronica, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and ...

at the Radio Barlavento in Mindelo. He died on August 27, 1970, just a day before his 70th birthday.

Legacy

Along with

Cesária Évora Cesária Évora GCIH (; 27 August 194117 December 2011), more commonly known as Cize, was a Cape Verdean singer-songwriter. She received a Grammy Award in 2004 for her album '' Voz d'Amor''. Nicknamed the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without ...

and

Bana Bana may refer to: Languages * Bana language of northern Cameroon * Pa Na language of China * Phanaʼ language of Laos People * The Bana people of West Africa * Bana (singer), balladeer from Cape Verde * Banasura, an asura in Hindu mythology * ...

, Martins were one of the most important persons in Mindelo. A street named after the writer is located north of Mindelo slightly northeast of the city center.

Theatrical Works

* ''Vai-te Treinando desde Já'', a theatrical piece, written in 1960, written about the problems of Portuguese colonial rule

References

External links

Nhô Djunga

Photo of Lajinha in 1938 by João Cleófas Martins at Saial
1901 births 1970 deaths Cape Verdean male writers People from Mindelo Writers from São Vicente, Cape Verde Cape Verdean dramatists and playwrights Male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century dramatists and playwrights 20th-century male writers {{CapeVerde-writer-stub