In an interview before his arrest, Luaty Beirão railed against President Dos Santos and called for urgent change ahead of the 40th anniversary of independence

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Luaty Beirão is an Angolan rapper known for his political activism. But since June, the 33-year-old has become a hero in the country, held up as a symbol by those who oppose President José Eduardo dos Santos’s government, now in power for 36 years.

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Four months ago, Beirão gathered with 12 friends as part of a book group in the capital to discuss politics and read about non-violent protest. But before their meeting finished, they were arrested by the police and detained.

They have now been held for 118 days, well past the legal limit, and indicted for “preparing acts pursuant to a coup d’etat”.

To protest against the charge and his continued imprisonment, Beirão has gone on hunger strike, which is now in entering its 26th day, and reports are circulating that his health is now quickly deteriorating.

In Lisbon, London and Berlin, people have been marching in solidarity with the rapper and his fellow detainees, while in Angola protests and vigils have been organised by friends and family of the group.

Interviewed by the Portuguese newspaper Público in March about the 40th anniversary of Angola’s independence, due to be celebrated on 11 November, Beirão said it’s time for urgent change in the country. “We need new blood, new ideas and new people who have the courage to do things differently.”

“The problem is already identified: the elite has nothing more to give, they should recognise that they served the country, they took advantage of it and now it’s time to hand it over,” he explained.

In the video, Beirão explained that he was aware he could become a persona non grata, words that carry particular poignancy since his hunger strike has entered a critical stage, and his health is severely compromised.



“Because I took a clear position against the current state of things, and pointed out people’s names. I wasn’t the first one to do it. But all you need is someone who wants to please the boss and says: ‘This boy needs to be punished, he needs to learn that he shouldn’t mess up with the almighty Angolan state and with the almighty MPLA [the party in power].”

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Beirão has previously talked about the personal difficulties he has had for standing up as a member of the opposition. The son of João Beirão, a politician closely aligned to President Dos Santos, Beirão said doesn’t support his father’s views and was not a “child of the regime”.

“Genetics has nothing to do with the views I endorse ... I don’t understand how that forces me to follow my father’s line of thought.”

Also known as Ikonoklasta, the rapper has frequently criticised politicians during his concerts, and has been picked up by the police and detained more than once for his outspoken views.

In March 2011, following the Arab Spring, Beirão was imprisoned with a group of young people in Luanda for organising a protest march.

Video for Público by Ricardo Rezende and Frederico Batista