The revolution was also alive in the Casa dos Estudantes do Império (Empire Students’ Housing) of Coimbra

Building 54 on Avenida Sá da Bandeira was originally intended to house young people from the former colonies of Portugal. In the end, however, this intention was reversed and the house was taken over by the ideals of freedom, democracy and the struggle against colonialism.

This article from Coimbra Coletiva looks at the role of the Casa dos Estudantes do Império (CEI), the Coimbra branch, during the Portuguese colonial period and its impact on the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. From its inception in 1944 until its closure by the PIDE in 1965, the CEI played a crucial role in raising the political awareness and ideological formation of students from the African colonies. This article examines how the CEI, originally intended as a vehicle for the promotion of Portuguese colonialism, became a centre of anti-colonial resistance and contributed to the political environment that led to the fall of the dictatorial regime in Portugal in 1974.

Activists Sumaila Jaló and Yussef, Dr Julião Soares Sousa and Professor José Luís Pires Laranjeiras offer perspectives on the historical significance of the CEI, highlighting its influence on anti-colonial struggles and its role in shaping Portugal's collective memory.

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