Manuel Querino

19th century Cape Verdean intellectual who documented West African cultural heritage

Manuel José dos Santos Neves Querino (1851-1921) was a Cape Verdean writer and anthropologist whose works preserved the cultural identity of the Crioulo people. Born in Boa Vista, he documented traditional stories, religious practices, and linguistic heritage in his seminal work Cantigas d'Amor. His ethnographic studies challenged colonial stereotypes by showcasing the sophistication of African-derived cultures. Querino's research on Crioulo traditions provided foundational material for later studies on Atlantic Creole cultures.

His 1893 publication Historical and Geographical Notes of Cape Verde remains a key source for understanding pre-colonial African diasporic communities. Querino's advocacy for Crioulo language rights predated modern linguistic preservation movements. His work is now celebrated through the Cape Verdean Cultural Center, which promotes his writings in schools. Recent digital archives like the African Literature Archive have digitized his manuscripts, ensuring global accessibility. Querino's legacy inspires contemporary efforts to reclaim marginalized cultural narratives across the African diaspora.