Malundo Kudiqueba – Birmingham
In a world that preaches diversity but practices exclusion, Tete António, Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, was prevented from speaking Portuguese at an official European Union meeting. An episode that shames European diplomacy and exposes how the Portuguese language continues to be treated as second-class, a peripheral tongue in the corridors of power.
The European bureaucrats didn’t realise that Tete António was, by far, the most multilingual person in the room. While the others limited themselves to English or French — the “acceptable” languages in the club of the powerful — the Angolan minister carried with him the fluent command of English, French, Russian, Kikongo, Portuguese, and also understands Spanish. He was, paradoxically, the most European of them all — and perhaps the most African too.
This wasn’t just a linguistic issue. It was a symbolic attempt to erase an identity. They tried to humiliate Tete António, but only ended up exposing their own ignorance. Portuguese is spoken across four continents, by over 260 million people, and is the official language of countries with complex, courageous, and deeply human histories. Yet, in the eyes of certain European circles, it is still treated as a colonial leftover, an ornamental language undeserving of a place in major forums.
This is where Tete António’s symbolic value lies: he is not just a minister — he is a flag. He represents an Angola that demands to be present, respected, and heard — in its own language. He represents an Africa that does not ask permission to exist.
The CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) now has the obligation to stop being a club of pretty speeches and become a real diplomatic force. Portugal must lead this front, and Angola must apply pressure. Either we give the Portuguese language the status it deserves, or we will continue witnessing scenes like this — where a brilliant man is silenced simply because he didn’t speak the language of the “owners of the room.”
There are moments in international diplomacy that reveal more than protocols and speeches — they reveal the prejudices buried beneath the surface of civility. One of those moments happened recently, when Angola’s Foreign Minister, Tete António, was denied the right to speak in Portuguese during a European Union session. The reason? The usual European linguistic arrogance, which continues to view Portuguese as peripheral, secondary, almost a colonial burden.
What they did to Tete António wasn’t just a discourtesy. It was a symbolic act of humiliation — a silent gesture that said, “your language doesn’t count.” But they chose the wrong target. Tete António responded with dignity, without succumbing to the inferiority complex that too often plagues our representatives. He didn’t shout. He didn’t pound the table. But his presence spoke louder than every microphone in the room.
Thank you, Tete António. In a world where respect is measured in power rather than in poetry, it took an Angolan to remind Europe that true greatness lies in listening to all voices — especially those who speak Portuguese.
Birmingham, 27 May 2025
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