Exile and contract: journeys of the mozambicans to S. Tomé and Príncipe (1940 to 1960)

Between 1940 and 1960, migration from Mozambique to São Tomé and Príncipe's colonial plantations revealed shifting dynamics of coercion and social homogeneity. Initially, migrants included both voluntary individuals and 'undesirables' sent as forced labor, but by the mid-1950s, the latter nearly ceased, leading to a more uniform demographic—primarily from Northern Mozambique—driven less by personal choice than state agreements. This migration strengthened Mozambican identity among returnees while complicating political consciousness due to the plantation system's isolation. The study, based on Maputo's Historical Archive, traces these patterns through labor demands, family reunifications (e.g., Cape Verdean women joining Mozambican partners), and the islands' role in shaping colonial-era identities.

Nascimento, A. (2023). Exile and contract: journeys of the mozambicans to S. Tomé and Príncipe (1940 to 1960). https://doi.org/10.51427/10451/58340