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African and afro-descendant videomakers take part in intensive workshop on Storytelling, Narratives and Power led by New York filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson
CEsA – Centre for African and Development Studies (ISEG Research/ISEG/Universidade de Lisboa) hosted an intensive training course in video documentary from 16 to 19 June 2025 — from 16 to 18 June at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management and on 19 June at Associação Passa Sabi — in Lisbon, aimed at African and Afro-descendant videomakers.
Aoaní Salvaterra, David J. Amado, Elísio Bajone, Eugénio Silva (Mushu), Indira (Indi Mateta), Josiana Cardoso and Rogério Dias were selected through an open call (in Portuguese) to participate in this initiative, led by RadaStudio New York filmmakers Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, known for award-winning documentaries such as Going to Mars – The Nikki Giovanni Project (2023), Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games (2023) and Elena (2021).
This marked the first time the New York-based filmmakers held a workshop of this kind in Lisbon — a programme that combined technical excellence and creativity with a strong commitment to social activism.
“This workshop is about supporting Black voices, Black narratives and Black cinema. Many of these filmmakers came with ideas and projects already in progress. We’re here to provide the support they need to centre their power and tell their stories in their own terms — in a society where they are not always welcomed,” explained Michèle Stephenson, filmmaker of Haitian and Panamanian descent.
Afro-American filmmaker Joe Brewster emphasised the importance of recognising the narratives of Black and Afro-descendant communities in Portugal.
“Africans and Afro-descendants have been here for hundreds of years, yet they are not represented in statues or among the public figures celebrated for contributing to Portuguese society. Without a narrative, one cannot truly claim agency within civil society — and future generations grow up without reference points. Telling our own stories inspires others and helps the dominant society acknowledge and accept the presence and value of those contributions.”
The initiative was part of the Work Package on Race, Ethnicity and Civic Participation, coordinated by CEsA researchers Iolanda Évora and Jessica Falconi. It served as a methodological tool for approaching civic participation and citizenship through culture — key themes within the European project #DemocracyInAction: Grassroots Culture, Arts and Cultural Spaces for Political Participation and Expression Online and Offline in a Resilient Europe.
CEsA is the Portuguese partner and one of the nine institutions in the European #DemocracyInAction consortium, coordinated by Leiden University and funded by the Horizon Europe programme (2025–2027).
Intensive Workshop
The programme’s main objective was to foster both theoretical reflection and creative practice in storytelling, narratives and power, equipping young audiovisual creators to critically explore storytelling techniques and examine the power dynamics that shape media, historical and cultural narratives.
For David J. Amado, a Jamaican screenwriter and filmmaker, the opportunity to work alongside other Afro-descendant colleagues was inspiring and creatively enriching.
“I’m usually the only Black person in these spaces. Here, I felt safer and more welcomed. The content also speaks directly to our community — about empathy and vulnerability — not only in the characters but also in the director. I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”
The course included 32 hours of classes, covering modules on scriptwriting, interview techniques, editing, and a film lab, where participants were encouraged to develop their own short-film projects under the direct guidance of the trainers.
Trainee Aoaní Salvaterra, from São Tomé and Príncipe, shared her enthusiasm about combining journalism with her passion for documentary filmmaking.
“Documentaries are very close to journalism — they’re about storytelling. Everything made sense to me here — it was like bringing together everything I’ve been doing throughout my life. It reignited the spark,” she said.
The training also included moments of experience sharing and debate on visual representation, identity, social justice, and belonging — central themes in the work of Brewster and Stephenson.
Josiana Cardoso, a Cape Verdean designer and film director of photography, used the experience to reflect on her social role as an artist.
“During the training, it was very important to meet people from different African nationalities and understand how other Black people reflect on our lived experiences. Everyone fights with the tools they have, and people in the arts — especially in audiovisual and cinema — can help build stories and bring them to others, raising awareness for these causes.”
Film Screenings in Lisbon
The filmmakers’ visit to Lisbon concluded with two public screenings: Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, shown on 20 June at the Cape Verde Cultural Centre; and Black Girls Play – The Story of Hand Games and Elena, on 21 June at Espaço Mbongi (Praceta António Sérgio n.4 A, Queluz). Following the film screenings, the filmmakers engaged in a conversation with the audience and guests, moderated by journalist Paula Cardoso, from Afrolink — a partner in this project.
Read more:
#DemocracyInAction – Project’s website
Author: CEsA Communication (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Images: Marianna Rios/CEsA, Personal Archive, and Passa Sabi/Reproduction
CEsA Working Paper No. 204/2025 analyses insecurity and terrorism in the Sahel Region
CEsA Working Paper No. 204/2025, entitled “Insegurança e Terrorismo na Região do Sahel” (Insecurity and Terrorism in the Sahel Region) examines jihadist groups that resort to coercive activities to pursue political and religious objectives
Terrorism in the Sahel tends to arise in countries where there are territorial disputes near borders, conflicts over the possession or use of natural resources, or tensions stemming from the transhumance of herders and nomadic peoples, as well as cattle theft. However, it is the violence rooted in religious tensions that most severely threatens the survival of those living in this arid region, already afflicted by drought. Terrorism, therefore, thrives in the Sahel due to political, religious, and socio-economic factors.
CEsA Working Paper No. 204/2025, entitled “Insegurança e Terrorismo na Região do Sahel” (Insecurity and Terrorism in the Sahel Region), analyses jihadist groups that resort to coercive practices and exploit vulnerable, conservative or fundamentalist populations in order to pursue political-religious objectives. In doing so, they manipulate complex strategic settings, with disastrous consequences for both the present and the future of the countries involved. The publication is authored by CEsA researcher Maria Sousa Galito, who holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the Institute for Political Studies of the Catholic University of Portugal.
CEsA Working Paper No. 204/2025 can be downloaded via the following link: https://cesa.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WP-204-2025.pdf
Abstract:
If terrorism is political violence against civilians or unarmed people, it can either be employed by an autocratic state, or be instrumental in the subversive activity of paramilitary groups seeking to overthrow governments or change the current system. It is a phenomenon distinct from war or guerrilla warfare, although it can be an available resource in a hybrid conflict that also includes mercenaries and militias. This article gives examples of insecurity and terrorism in the Sahel region. It analyses jihadist groups that resort to coercive activities, therefore abusing vulnerable, conservative or fundamentalist peoples in order to achieve political-religious goals, and thus manipulating complex strategic stages with disastrous repercussions for the present and future of the countries involved. Secondary bibliography was used for scientific research and analysis, seeking an innovative and multifactorial approach to explaining a phenomenon that is difficult to eradicate in the Sahel, for the reasons identified.
About the author:
Maria Sousa Galito holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the Institute for Political Studies of the Catholic University of Portugal and is a researcher at CEsA/ISEG Research/ISEG-Universidade de Lisboa.
Click here to explore the full collection of CEsA Working Papers
Author: CEsA Communication Team (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Image: Reproduction
Partner with the travelling exhibition ‘Deconstructing Colonialism, Decolonising the Imaginary’ to bring this debate to new audiences
The exhibition ‘Deconstructing Colonialism, Decolonising the Imaginary. Portuguese Colonialism in Africa: Myths and Realities’ is open to the public until 2 November 2025 in the largest temporary exhibition hall of the National Museum of Ethnology (Lisbon). It invites visitors to engage in a profound reflection and deconstruction of the myths surrounding Portuguese colonialism in Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries, aiming to renew knowledge on the colonial question.
The exhibition ‘Deconstructing Colonialism, Decolonising the Imaginary. Portuguese Colonialism in Africa: Myths and Realities’, on display at the National Museum of Ethnology in Lisbon until 2 November 2025, has been adapted into an accessible and educational format, consisting of 30 thematic panels accompanied by a brochure.
The travelling exhibition Deconstructing Colonialism, Decolonising the Imaginary presents images and texts that provide historical context on the colonial phenomenon and contribute to the decolonisation of the imaginary, fostering a renewal of knowledge on the Portuguese colonial question.
The collection is available in two versions, one in Portuguese and the other in English, and can be temporarily loaned free of charge to partner institutions upon request via email at cesa@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt.
Join this initiative and become a partner in this project!
The project was conceived and coordinated by CEsA researcher and historian Isabel Castro Henriques to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, emphasising the importance of understanding the past to build a more inclusive future. It is co-organised by CEsA and the National Museum of Ethnology, with the support of the 50 Years of the 25th of April Commemorative Commission.
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Author: CEsA Communication Team (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Image: Reproduction/CEsA
#DemocracyinAction! CEsA joins a European consortium in a €3 million Horizon Europe project to investigate political expression and participation through grassroots culture and the arts
The CEsA – Centre for African and Development Studies (ISEG RESEARCH/ISEG – University of Lisbon), under the coordination of Dr. Iolanda Évora and Dr. Jessica Falconi, hosted a group of over 20 European researchers on 12–14 February 2025 for the Kick-Off Meeting, marking the beginning of the Portuguese centre’s collaboration in the international project #DemocracyinAction: Grassroots Culture, Arts and Cultural Spaces for Political Participation and Expression Online and Offline in a Resilient Europe.
The project is led by Dr. Sara Brandellero and Dr. Kamila Krakowska Rodrigues from Leiden University, Netherlands, and is funded by Horizon Europe with a budget of €3 million, under the Work Programme on Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society.
#DemocracyinAction aims to study grassroots cultural and artistic organisations in physical spaces, as well as their presence on social media and in the metaverse. At a time when democracy in Europe faces unprecedented challenges, this research seeks to understand the critical potential of these initiatives in promoting democracy by identifying solutions to enhance meaningful political expression and civic participation in four key areas of social transformation:
- Nightivism: exploring urban nightlife culture as a form of political engagement;
- Women’s Rights Mobilisation;
- Racial and Ethnic Civic Participation through Cultural Expression;
- Youth Activism and Civic Education.
CEsA (Portugal) & CSIC (Spain) Work Package: Race, Ethnicity and Civic Participation
The Iberian Peninsula has been chosen as a paradigmatic case of cultural productions and manifestations led by communities that, despite facing racialisation and ethnic discrimination, have significantly reshaped national cultural landscapes and contributing to democratic processes.
Within this context, the CEsA team will lead the Work Package on Race, Ethnicity and Civic Participation, focusing on the cultural and artistic productions and the spaces created by Afro-diasporic communities, identified by their ethnic-racial belonging. As a case study, the research will explore the experiences of the Afro-diaspora, alongside the cultural productions of the Romani community in Portugal and the Moroccan-origin community in Spain.
The research will be developed in collaboration with local organisations such as Associação Passa Sabi and AfroLink. Passa Sabi is dedicated to empowering Afro-diasporic and Romani youth in multicultural and economically vulnerable neighbourhoods. AfroLink is a digital platform promoting Black entrepreneurship, particularly among women.
Innovation and Impact
Collaboration with community centres, theatres, exhibition halls, and artists, brings tested creative tools to mobilize people into civic participation and mitigate polarization. Working with digital designers and developers, #DemocracyinAction tests the unknown potential of virtual immersive spaces, including novel trends of virtual nightclubs, to deliver cutting-edge research and policy recommendations for a democratic and safe use and design of social media and metaverse environments.
About the Consortium
The consortium is composed of nine partners based in six European countries:
- Leiden University (Netherlands) – Coordinator;
- Santagata Foundation for the Economy of Culture (Italy);
- Jagiellonian University (Poland);
- Centre for African and Development Studies (CEsA) (Portugal);
- DE/MO Foundation (Netherlands) – Promoting democracy and culture among youth;
- National Research Council CSIC (Spain);
- VibeLab (Netherlands) – Urban nightlife research and advocacy;
- Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal (Germany);
- Institute of Public Affairs (Poland) – Think-tank.
The project will also engage stakeholders from all EU regions, as well as from the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, in both democratic and non-democratic contexts.
For more information, follow updates on the official CEsA website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and CEsA Agenda.
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Author: CEsA Communication (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Images: CEsA/Reproduction
Conference ’50 Years of Mozambican Literature: Trajectories and Creative Practices’ will take place on October 9-10 at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Conference ’50 Years of Mozambican Literature: Trajectories and Creative Practices’
Date: October 9-10, 2025. Free attendance. Time to be confirmed.
Venue:Room 1 of the congress area at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Av. de Berna, 45A, 1067-001 Lisbon)
Organised by: CEsA – Centre for African and Development Studies (CEsA/CSG/ISEG-ULisboa) and UEM – Eduardo Mondlane University
Supported by: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and CEsA/CSG/ISEG-ULisboa
Partnerships: University of Bayreuth, Sorbonne Nouvelle, and State University of Campinas
In the year marking 50 years since African Literatures became part of the curriculum at a Portuguese university (FLUL-ULisboa), this two-day conference, organised by CEsA – Centre for African and Development Studies (CSG/ISEG-ULisboa) in partnership and collaborative effort with Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) in Mozambique, will feature four thematic round tables. The event will bring together writers, artists, and university lecturers from Portugal and Mozambique to present and discuss developments in the creative and research practices of African literatures, focusing on the progress and future of Mozambican Literature over the past fifty years. Mozambican Literature is considered a unique example within Portuguese-speaking African literatures. Contributions from experts in African Literatures, particularly Mozambican Literature, from European universities (Bayreuth and Sorbonne Nouvelle) and Brazilian universities (UNICAMP – State University of Campinas) will also be included.
This two-day conference, 50 Years of Mozambican Literature: Trajectories and Creative Practices, will highlight the creative dimension as a driving force for research. By incorporating writers, editors, filmmakers, and artists, the event will showcase perspectives on the recent past—spanning half a century—within the realms of creation, teaching, publishing, and translation, while envisioning a promising future shaped by the experiences of younger generations.
Free attendance. Please note that the event does not include academic paper submissions.
Organising Committee:
Ana Mafalda Leite (FLUL/ULisboa and CEsA/CSG/ISEG/ULisboa)
Lucílio Manjate (UEM)
Scientific Committee:
Ana Mafalda Leite (FLUL/ULisboa and CEsA/CSG/ISEG/ULisboa)
Egídia Souto (Sorbonne Nouvelle)
Elena Brugioni (UNICAMP)
Elídio Nhamona (UEM)
Jessica Falconi (FLUL/ULisboa e CEsA/CSG/ISEG/ULisboa)
Joana Pereira Leite (CEsA/CSG/ISEG/ULisboa)
José Camilo Manusse (UEM)
Lucílio Manjate (UEM)
Ute Fendler (University of Bayreuth)
Author: CEsA Communication (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Images: Reproduction
CEsA History Website and Brochure
The moment of celebrating 40 years of the foundation of CEsA, and 30 years of the creation of ISEG’s Masters in Development and International Cooperation, offers us a unique opportunity to remember the trajectory and legacy in the field of research in Portugal, with the launch of a website and a brochure on the history of CEsA: https://cesa.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/cesa-40-anos/
