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As part of the King’s Africa Week Programme 2025, we are hosting an event to celebrate both the centenary of Amílcar Cabral’s birth and the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Lusophone African countries.

This event will explore Cabral’s profound contributions to decolonial movements across the Global South and their enduring relevance today. The discussion will feature documentary filmmaker Valerio Lopes alongside academics Victor Barros and Nayanka Perdigão as panelists.

The event will take place on Thursday the 6th of March 2025 in Strand Building S-1.06 from 17.30 to 19.30. It will be split in two parts:

1. A screening of CABRALISTA – Amílcar Cabral. 
2. A panel discussion exploring Cabral’s enduring influence on Lusophone African and broader African struggles for decolonisation, both historically and in contemporary contexts.

About the filmmaker

Valerio Lopes

Valerio (Val) Lopes is a storyteller, filmmaker, and technologist dedicated to preserving and amplifying Africa’s history and heritage. As the creator and founder of Afryk and Medeo, he merges creativity with innovation to reshape narratives about the continent. Though his work spans the globe, his perspective remains deeply rooted in African values, driven by a vision of peace, equality, and justice.

With a background in audio engineering, Valerio expanded his expertise into programming and digital design, developing a range of apps and digital products. His passion for storytelling led him to filmmaking, and he is the director of Cabralista, the documentary being shown at this event, as well as The Africologist, a film that presents the world through an authentic African lens. These projects, along with many others, reflect his commitment to ensuring Africa’s history and cultural legacy take their rightful place in the global narrative.

Throughout his career, he has taken on multiple roles—audio engineer for film and music, designer, director, editor, and consultant. In his recent work as a consultant in Africa, he prioritizes cultural representation over profit, advocating for social responsibility and the advancement of African values.

About the panelists

Victor Barros

Dr Víctor Barros is a historian specialising in Portuguese colonialism, anticolonial movements, and the politics of memory. He holds a PhD in Contemporary History from the University of Coimbra, supported by a Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation research fellowship. From 2016 to 2019, he was a researcher on the project Amílcar Cabral – From Political History to Politics of Memory at NOVA University of Lisbon, conducting archival research and organising seminars in Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Portugal, and France. His work examines the legacy of Cabral and the broader struggles for decolonisation in Lusophone Africa. He is the author of a book on colonial concentration camps in Cabo Verde and has published extensively on commemorations, transnational anticolonial solidarity, colonial monuments, and history writing. His research appears in journals such as The International History Review, Revista Portuguesa de História, and European Contemporary History. A former member of the École des Hautes Études Hispaniques et Ibériques at Casa de Velázquez (2022–2023), he is currently a researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History at NOVA University of Lisbon.

Nayanka Perdigão

Dr Nayanka Paquete Perdigão is a Research Associate with the African Leadership Centre (ALC). Nayanka has published peer-reviewed articles in the ALC Africa Comments Series and the ALC COVID-19 Op-ed Series. She has also organised and overseen numerous academic conferences and symposiums. She has commented on development, peace, and security issues for Lusophone and Francophone Africa on Radio France International and Al Jazeera. She was also a Guinea-Bissau freelance contributor for The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

About King's Africa Week

Hosted by the African Leadership Centre and Africa research group, Africa Week is an annual celebration of research, education and outreach activities on Africa.

King's Africa Week brings together academics, researchers and students from across King's – and offers the opportunity to hear from African scholars, leaders and thinkers. It also showcases King's collaboration with African universities and partners.

Find out more about Africa Week