Jorge Sangumba: Private Letters of an Angolan Patriot PART III - 1975
INTRODUCTION:
[Those of you who know me well, also know how much I value my privacy ( maybe even to the point of reclusiveness.) But as a historian, I treasure knowledge even more. I have decided to publish these letters because they fill in a gap in our historical knowledge of the men and women, who gave their lives to the anti-colonial struggles in Africa, during the Cold War years.
Jorge Sangumba and I had corresponded for several months before we met in London in 1973. I was a graduate student at Harvard, and he was foreign secretary of UNITA, a liberation movement fighting for Angolan independence from Portuguese colonialism. We were married two years later. But civil war erupted in Angola, days after our wedding. Our marriage fell apart in the midst of the ensuing chaos. Even so, some ties are eternal. Jorge was tortured to death in 1982.
UNITA’s story will probably never be told in full, because history is told by the victors. However, in this small way, I’d like to sabotage that maxim. For Jorge’s letters help to put a human face on a political movement, that the outside world came to know only in the context of its unstable leader. Click here for a tribute to J. Sangumba called "The Angola of My Dreams." Please be patient. It loads slowly.]
UNITA’s story will probably never be told in full, because history is told by the victors. However, in this small way, I’d like to sabotage that maxim. For Jorge’s letters help to put a human face on a political movement, that the outside world came to know only in the context of its unstable leader. Click here for a tribute to J. Sangumba called "The Angola of My Dreams." Please be patient. It loads slowly.]
PART III - 1975
Penina Golf Hotel
Penina-Algarve, Portugal
January 15, 1975
My dearest Connie,
I do presume you are still around Senegal. I did write to you a couple of times to IFAN[1]; I did telephone you more than ten times from Lusaka to IFAN; I did send to you two cables, but with no avail, I preferred to think that you went away to the north or countryside of Senegal to undertake your research as you planned. But whatever may be the difficulties two months of silence between us is a long time, don’t you think SO? It’s not an exaggeration to tell you that I did miss you so much that sometimes I think that I changed. Of course, you made me change. Now I do feel unfilled without you. And you became entirely part of Mr. Jorge Sangumba.
Comrade Savimbi and a delegation of 15 people of UNITA were in Senegal. They saw Senghor [the Senegalese President] and Government officials. I had organized a return ticket for you to come to Lusaka, and go with us to Nova Lisboa by plane on 25th January 75 and then return to Lusaka 5 days later, but nothing. I am still keeping the ticket for you to come to Lusaka to visit me and Zambia itself. If you are prepared you may contact me in Lusaka.
I will be staying as representative in Lusaka. I have to go to London sometime and get my personal belongings. Do you want to come to Zambia to stay with me or will you be staying at Ospringe road until you finish your thesis, or will you be going to USA? Naturally, I would love to stay with you on condition that you finish your academic work. I do still think very strongly that you should finish this thesis this year and I do strongly feel that we are getting old (not you…!) and marriage should be contemplated still this year. I have to be in Lusaka for important and urgent matters have to be taken up. Angola shall be independent and sovereign on 11th November 1975 and on 31st of January a transitional government of the three movements will be formed. UNITA will lead the ministries of Labour and Social Security; Education and culture; and Natural resources (such as mineral resources, oil, etc). MPLA will lead the ministries of information, finance and Justice; FNLA will lead Interior; Agriculture and Health. The agreement to reach independence on November 11th 1975 was signed today in Penina (Alvor, Faro) between the three Liberation Movements and Portugal.
Everything went very well and the three movements in Mombasa, Kenya reached a common political platform to negotiate jointly with the Portuguese. Days later in Dar es Salaam OAU Liberation committee extended a de jure recognition to UNITA even in absentia.
On New Year’s eve I spoke from Lusaka with your mother in Texas. I phoned her and them to wish them a “Happy and healthy New Year.” She was delighted and surprised. She asked for you and I am sure by now. She is fully aware about deep commitment.
Please, do accept these few 500 French Francs, equivalent to 25,000 CFA and go to the beach (not with bikini), and have a good meal! I do not know when I shall pass Dakar going to London to collect my things, but I do hope soon.
The UNITA delegation is departing now to Lusaka. I shall be delighted and calm to hear from you. Tell me what’s happening and about your little problems. Let me assure you again that I do love you and I look forward still this year to be a husband of the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. John and Ida Hilliard.
With love and affection,
Jorge Sangumba
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London, 20th January 1975
Beloved Cucu,
It may be surprising to you. Yes, ,I arrived in London two days ago, not to stay any longer at Ospringe Road, but in a special mission for UNITA. At any event, I spent three full days on our top flat at Ospringe Road. The room was soulless. It misses your charm, your warmth and naturally our little quarrels at the middle of the night when Cucu seemed to talk to Jorge and poor Jorge reacting like a dead stone just lying there...When I am tired I just find problems of communication even with the beloved one. All your personal belongings are at the same place. One pair of shoes under the bed, fancy golden rings behind boxes, socks here and there, skirts over and under something else. In short the top flat did not lose its originality.
I found a lot of work. Thousands of letters to read and answer. Do you guess who has written to me in a most beautiful way? Mrs. Ida and John Hilliard. I took the letter of theirs as a green light to transform their daughter from a single woman into a married one. It is in this context, that we may plan for the exciting coming of the little Jorge or little Connie Jr. According to my plans submitted to you long time ago, I do remember, September or October 75 should have been the period when we should have given a step forward in the history of our lives, then everything else will follow smoothly.
About your plans, I would suggest once again that you must terminate your thesis, and then start learn Portuguese language, because you have a place in the political, educational, and economic development of Angola. Despite our long distances, and not writing to each other for long time, let me assure you that my commitment to you is total. I do love you and I want you also to love me. I shall stay all the time on your side and I want you to triumph in life. Definitely, you as a wife and as a mother shall adjust yourself to the realities of life and act accordingly.
With all my love and affection,
Jorge Sangumba
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Feb. 2, 1975
Nairobi, February 2, 1975
My beloved Connie.
In your last letter you mentioned your coming to Lusaka in February. I would suggest
you to come in the 2nd or 3rd week of March upon the reception of my telegram. For the moment I am on my way to Addis Ababa to attend the council of Ministers meeting and then I shall have a couple of trips to Europe (eastern and Western) and west Africa.
As you may be aware I would love you to be near me and see you, kiss you, hug you daily. At the same time it's with apprehension that I think about your academic work which I would like you to finish and well. If Lusaka is going to be helpful to you and not detrimental, well, my love, you are very very welcome.
The house in Lusaka is quite vast for two people. You shall have enough space to indulge yourself in tracking and cross country. From time to time I shall be going along with you for supervision and escorting. Also you must come prepared to show your talents in gardening for there's alot of land for that and for farming apart from domestic responsibilities which we shall share amicably!...
I shall be back in Lusaka at the end of February 75. Take care and I am eager to hear from you. I do miss you, indeed, darling. With all my love,
Lovingly,
Jorge Sangumba
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Abidjan, February 21, 1975
My dearest Connie,
Last afternoon and today morning I tried to reach you by phone but the gentleman who answered 34000 said you were absent. I was anxious to hear your voice and to kill some "saudades" and naturally it will be pointless to state I missed you very much and that I do love you despite some of your inner fears, suspicions and sense of insecurity. Whatever happens, baby, I made up my mind and in a very serious manner.
My coming to Dakar is not excluded yet before the end of February because I have to go to Paris and I will dodge a bit and sneak around in order to find an excuse to stop by Dakar and give you that kind of "HUG"!... My health is good during these days and the certainty of an independent Angola on 11th November cured all my ulcers and nerves.
Politically UNITA is doing quite well. Nova Lisboa will be our headquarters for political administration and the jungle in Eastern Angola will continue to be our military shelter. In fact, militarily we are increasing in numbers and perfecting the quality of our people's army in order to be as a deterrent force against any eventuality of nonsense.
Je t'embrace, ton amour,
Jorge Sangumba
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April 5, 1975, By Air (Libreville to Lome)
My dearest Connie,
I am on a rather urgent trip to meet President Kaunda[2] in Barbados. We went with Dr. Savimbi to Angola and comrade Savimbi left in Luso while myself alone in a private jet flew to Libreville and then proceeded to Barbados (West Indies). While at Libreville airport the captain of the jet told me that our jet has been shot at by 85 mm guns, while taking off in Luso. The shooting at our plane just reflects the present irresponsible mood reigning in Angola. The conflicts between FNLA and MPLA are reaching alarming proportions. Last week Luanda had more than 4,000 killed from both sides. UNITA tried to play its moderate and modest role in the conflict.
Now, there are many strange forces working in Angola. But we shall deal with them all as fighters from the Eastern bush of Angola. This time the provocation on FNLA came from MPLA using kids of 13 years old to carry guns and patrol streets. All the lumpen [proletariat] elements have been armed by MPLA and FNLA.
I am waiting for you in Lusaka in June 75. I shall send you another cable to tell you which period of June will be most convenient for me due to my present safaris around the world.
I am sorry I haven't been able to be a better correspondent. Time and travelling must be blamed for that. All your things left at Ospringe Road are now on their way to Lusaka. Ernesto shipped them all. The next step will be for you to be shipped to Lusaka and visit somebody called Jorge.
With all my love and affection,
Jorge
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Lusaka, 18th April 1975
My dearest Connie,
My health and good spirits did not desert me yet, despite the pressure of work from this long and hard political marathon of ours in Angola. Apart from corns on my Bantu toes, no complaints, and naturally apart from your and our love physically separated from time and space.
There have been so many things happening inside Angola, politically, that I do not know how and where to start to tell you about the recent developments. The most striking feature of our political life inside Angola is the struggle between FNLA and MPLA in one side and UNITA tactfully sitting on the fence and consolidating its positions preaching "love and peace." And now since we have to fight for the general elections in October 1975, we have all the reasons on our side to avoid any tensions leading to a general conflagration and chaos in the country. The reasons of fighting between FNLA and MPLA are clear. Moscow and Washington are their ghosts. We are trying to break this political polarization and show all the brothers and sisters in Angola that civil war will make all the contenders the losers and victims.
I have few things to discuss with you about our marriage and all the preparations about it. If really we have to get married this year, we have to take the issue a bit more seriously and without equivocation. If you are not ready, my darling, just feel very free and be frank about it, I will not make an issue out of it, sincerely. One thing is certain: until November 75, my political and personal life will be very agitated for this is for UNITA and for all of us a decisive period.
With all my love and affection,
Jorge
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Lusaka, 21st April 1975
My dearest Connie,
I was delighted to have received your letter after few "centuries" of silence. The letter was handed over to me by Mose Garoeb of SWAPO who told me that you have been helping them in the office. Just be very careful with gossiping, for we know how the brothers talk and spread rumours.
The Angolan situation is getting tougher and tougher. UNITA shall continue to hold the political balance and capitalize on other people's mistakes for our own political advantage. Now the smallest movement of Angola became the largest and greatest. We shall continue to fight and expect to have in October the political verdict of the people of Angola.
Take care of your health and with all my love and affection, I embrace you strongly,
Love,
Jorge
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Lisboa, May 7, 1975
Minda querida Connie,
We are no longer "terrorists" and "persona non grata" in our former metropolis. How are you? I am fine and traveling extensively. We are taking part in a big political race where only those with extra political stamina will reach the end of the competition. How is your thesis coming along Dr. Connie Hilliard? How is your health? Are you still engaged in your morning runnings to keep your healthful and feminine lines?
Apart from politics, last night on my bed I had time to think about our marriage and our next encounter in Lusaka and naturally about the reaction of your parents. Once again, be sure that I do love you very much and sooner than later we shall be Mr. and Mrs. or (Ms.) Sangumba.
Love and affection,
Jorge
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Georgetown (Guyana) May 21, 1975
My dearest Connie,
How are you?!...Tell me the "blues" Baby!... For the past 5 days I have been with Miguel Ngau Puna rambling over South America. Incidentally, when shall you be arriving in Lusaka? I made rational propaganda all over Zambia that my Cucu will be coming so don't let me down, Baby!...My vast kitchen in Lusaka is ready for you to take over as general manager and chief cook for the big "boss" Savimbi and other comrades of our great family of UNITA.
So how is your academic work coming along? Do you know what?!... For the first time in my life since I have known you I started to get thrilled and anxious about prospects of getting married, and at the same time more secure about our future lives. In Lusaka we shall decide whether the matrimonial ceremony will take place in Angola, USA or in the liberated areas of UNITA. come what may let's make 1975 or early 1976 our year!...
Take care and be strong and good. with all my love and affection,
Love
Jorge Sangumba
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Lusaka June 30, 1975
Dearest Connie,
You can't imagine how happy I was to see you in Lusaka and being seen by comrade Savimbi, Puna and others who incidentally liked you and approved "politically" our relationship. It's true that one week was a very short time, but my political time and your academic pressures didn't allow for much longer "romance." I must also confess that you looked much stable, sure of yourself and now you are starting to understand Mr. Jorge in his period whimsical moods. Let's just look to the future with confidence and plan a part in the overall game of life.
Marques was instructed by me to take your measurements for the wedding ring. I don't know anything about rings so give him some ideas and he will get them for us. So, as you can see I am taking the wedding affair very religiously serious.
Take care of yourself. I think you lost a lot of weight. I wonder whether is a question of too much exercises, or a question of not eating as you should or even a question of too much academic work. Elegance is good as long as it is not in detriment of mens sana in corpore sano [a healthy mind in a healthy body]."
With you my love,
Jorge Sangumba
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July 22, 1975
On the Air between Khartoum and France
My beloved Cucu,
I am on my way to London via Frankfurt (West Germany). Darling, the situation in Angola has acquired new proportions. MPLA and FNLA have been fighting like two drunken marines for the same ugly girlfriend - Luanda!...They seem to be convinced that whoever controls Luanda controls Angola. What a pity!...UNITA continues to play its intelligent, peaceful role but naturally arming and training more young people of Angola in order to speak more effectively about peace and reason. Today the game is clear -- Soviet Union is determined to have a foothold in Angola. Nobody doubts unless a political fool, that if elections take place in Angola, UNITA will carry a good 75% if not more. because of this or that, the losers in the game (MPLA and FNLA) must create conditions of tension and insecurity in Angola.
Extend my regards to your Mama, Papa, sister and brother, and let me hear from you soon. With all my love and affection.
Je t'embrace, ton amour
Jorge
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December 20, 1975
Postcard mailed from Republique de Cote D’Ivoire [West Africa]
Dearest wife Connie,
How are you? I’m now in Abidjan [capital of west African nation of Cote D’Ivoire]. From here we shall be going to Dakar [Senegal], Yaounde [Cameroon], Libreville [Gabon] and then back home to Angola. Things in Angola are tough, but we shall manage. Good luck in your thesis for I did miss you very much. And I’m sorry. With love,
Ton Mari,
Jorge
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