Brava-based writer Nelson Miranda launches a book about the cyclone that devastated Brava in 1982

This Friday, October 30, at 4:00 p.m., at Praça Eugénio Tavares in Nova Sintra, Brava-born writer Nelson Miranda will present his second book, titled “O Grito do Beryl – The Night the Island Went Dark.” The book is inspired by the cyclone that struck the island of Brava in August 1982, leaving a trail of destruction and memories that remain with the Brava community to this day.

According to information posted on the Facebook page Notícias de DjaBraba, based on statements the author made to Inforpress, the book is the result of research and the collection of testimonies from people who directly experienced the events of that period.

Nelson Miranda transformed the survivors’ accounts and experiences into a short-story-style narrative, seeking to reconstruct one of the most significant episodes in the island’s recent history.

Born in 1983, a year after the cyclone struck, Nelson Miranda did not personally witness the tragedy. However, he grew up hearing stories told by family members and others in the community about the storm’s intensity, the damage it caused, and the hardships faced by the population.

These memories sparked the writer’s interest in investigating the event and transforming it into a literary work that could reach a wider audience.

For the author, preserving these testimonies is a way to prevent important events in Brava’s history from falling into oblivion, particularly among young people who had no direct contact with that reality.

With “The Scream of Beryl—The Night the Island Went Dark,” Nelson Miranda seeks to contribute to the preservation of Brava’s collective memory, using literature to bring different generations closer to the island’s history.

The publication also represents an opportunity to give voice to the experiences of those who faced the 1982 cyclone, allowing their testimonies to be heard by readers both inside and outside Cape Verde, including the Brava diaspora.

The book launch is part of the cultural program organized by the Brava City Council to mark Culture Month.

Nelson Miranda invites the public—especially literature lovers and anyone interested in the island’s history—to attend the book presentation, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Eugénio Tavares Square.

The event offers an opportunity to learn about the writer’s work and, through literature, revisit an event that has left a deep imprint on the memory of several generations of Brava residents.