PARADISE: Does the Empire Still Live Here? Memories, marks and paths of decolonisation in Braga

PARADISE: Does the Empire Still Live Here? Memories, marks and paths of decolonisation in Braga

Traces of the colonial past are still evident in various ways in the city of Braga. Some are obvious, others are hidden in ways of being and behaving, their origins often forgotten by collective memory.

Over the centuries, Braga became part of the Portuguese colonial expansion networks, participating in the circulation of people, knowledge and goods. These dynamics included both voluntary movements and forced migrations, including the trafficking of enslaved people, which left deep marks on Portuguese society. The legacies of this past remain inscribed in the urban fabric, as well as in cultural references and, above all, in the ways in which the city’s identity is constructed. However, there is a part of history that is systematically silenced and/or made invisible.

In this guided tour, we propose a debate on how the presence of the Portuguese Empire is still felt in the city — whether in monuments and street names, or in rarely told stories. We will address everything from explicit references, such as General Norton de Matos, or symbols, such as armillary spheres, to the more subtle elements that reflect the colonial legacy.

In this sense, celebrating 50 years of independence for the PALOP countries and Timor-Leste is to recognise that, in history, five decades are a brief moment, still present in the memory and relationships of society. The challenge of this journey is to look beyond the surface, question the official narratives and recognise the multiple voices that have always coexisted and shaped this city.

Free registration at participacao@theatrocirco.com