Amílcar Cabral and the instrumental and utilitarian role of the Portuguese language in the struggle for independence in Guinea and Cape Verde

The struggle for national liberation in the Portuguese colonies raised extensive debates and critical reflections regarding whether liberation movements should adopt the coloniser’s language as a tool for contesting colonialism or prioritise linguistic decolonisation as part of their resistance efforts. In the specific case of the PAIGC, the topic was the subject of multiple discussions, as evidenced by the interventions of its leader, Amílcar Cabral. Indeed, the existence of different positions regarding the matter reveals the complexity of the issue. This paper will examine Amílcar Cabral’s theoretical contributions to the sociolinguistic debate on the use of the Portuguese language by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). It also aims to update existing knowledge on the subject.