João Cleofas Martins, his nickname Djunga Fotógrafo (28 August 1901 in the island of São Vicente–27 August 1970 in Mindelo, São Vicente) was a Cape Verdean photographer and author.
Biography
He was born in the island of Sāo Vicente, just shortly after
Sergio Frusoni. His father came from the island of
Brava and he lived most of his life in
on the island of
São Vicente.
He was one of a few Cape Verdean
author
In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...
s who criticized the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
of the second Republic of
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
.
He worked at the
Western Telegraph Company (now Western Union), he went to
Lisbon
Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...
in 1928 and took part in photography. He founded "Foto Progresso" in Mindelo back home in 1931.
He had taken pictures mainly around the island, one of the most important photos was
Lajinha taken in 1938.
He dedicated all of his life to the children's home at the ol
Albergue de S. Vicente(now Lar de Nhô Djunga). As
Sergio Frusoni, he was a
chronicler
A chronicle (, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, ...
at the
Radio Barlavento in Mindelo.
He died on 27 August 1970, just a day before his 70th birthday.
Legacy
Along with
Cesária Évora
Cesária Évora GCIH (; 27 August 194117 December 2011) was a Cape Verdean singer known for singing morna, a genre of music from Cape Verde, in her native Cape Verdean Creole. Her songs were often devoted to themes of love, homesickness, nos ...
and
Bana, Martins were one of the most important persons in Mindelo.
A street named after the writer is located north of Mindelo slightly northeast of the city center.
Theatrical works
* ''Vai-te Treinando desde Já'', a theatrical piece written in 1960, about the problems of Portuguese colonial rule
References
External links
Nhô Djunga
Photo of Lajinha in 1938 by João Cleófas Martins at Saial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martins
1901 births
1970 deaths
20th-century dramatists and playwrights
20th-century male writers
Cape Verdean dramatists and playwrights
Cape Verdean male writers
Male dramatists and playwrights
People from Mindelo
Writers from São Vicente, Cape Verde