Augusto Mesquitela Lima

( 10 January 1929 - 14 January 2007 )
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Augusto Mesquitela Lima

Augusto Mesquitela Lima (Mindelo, 10 January 1929 - Lisbon, 14 January 2007) was a Cape Verdean anthropologist and writer.

He has published more than 30 scientific works and 25 books, including An Anthropological Reading of Poetics by Sérgio Frusoni. He is the dean of Cape Verdean anthropologists, internationally recognised as a specialist in Central African art.

Mesquitela Lima was grandson of Bernardo Mesquitela, governor of Cape Verde in 1913. He studied at the Liceu do Mindelo and began his career as a colonial official in 1949, as a customs clerk in Cape Verde. In 1952 he went to Angola as head of post for the Inspection of Administrative Services and Indigenous Businesses. He continued his studies in Lisbon in 1959 at the Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Política Ultramarina. Graduated in Political and Social Studies of Overseas Territories, he went to the Angolan Institute of Scientific Research, where he directed the Angolan Museum in Luanda. He founded the Dundo Museum, in the province of Lunda Norte, eastern Angola, where he studied various ethnic groups, with special emphasis on the Kyaka.

He returned to Portugal after the Revolution of 25 April 1974. Since 1975 he has been teaching at the New University of Lisbon, where he was a full professor and retired professor of Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences.

In 1977 he obtained his doctorate at the University of Paris X - Nanterre. He also worked in Paris with great names in world anthropology such as Claude Lévi-Strauss or Roger Bastide. In 1978 he created the Department of Anthropology at the New University of Lisbon, as well as the Institute of African Studies.

At the time of his death, Professor Mesquitela Lima was director of the Instituto Superior de Gestão.

Augusto Mesquitela Lima (Mindelo, 10 January 1929 - Lisbon, 14 January 2007) was a Cape Verdean anthropologist and writer.

He has published more than 30 scientific works and 25 books, including An Anthropological Reading of Poetics by Sérgio Frusoni. He is the dean of Cape Verdean anthropologists, internationally recognised as a specialist in Central African art.

Mesquitela Lima was grandson of Bernardo Mesquitela, governor of Cape Verde in 1913. He studied at the Liceu do Mindelo and began his career as a colonial official in 1949, as a customs clerk in Cape Verde. In 1952 he went to Angola as head of post for the Inspection of Administrative Services and Indigenous Businesses. He continued his studies in Lisbon in 1959 at the Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Política Ultramarina. Graduated in Political and Social Studies of Overseas Territories, he went to the Angolan Institute of Scientific Research, where he directed the Angolan Museum in Luanda. He founded the Dundo Museum, in the province of Lunda Norte, eastern Angola, where he studied various ethnic groups, with special emphasis on the Kyaka.

He returned to Portugal after the Revolution of 25 April 1974. Since 1975 he has been teaching at the New University of Lisbon, where he was a full professor and retired professor of Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences.

In 1977 he obtained his doctorate at the University of Paris X - Nanterre. He also worked in Paris with great names in world anthropology such as Claude Lévi-Strauss or Roger Bastide. In 1978 he created the Department of Anthropology at the New University of Lisbon, as well as the Institute of African Studies.

At the time of his death, Professor Mesquitela Lima was director of the Instituto Superior de Gestão.

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