The Azorean cultural and literary world is mourning the loss of Álamo de Oliveira, the prolific writer, playwright, and cultural advocate who passed away on July 6, 2025, at the age of 80.
Born in the parish of Raminho on Terceira Island, José Henrique Álamo Oliveira leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential voices in Azorean and Portuguese literature.
The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, described Álamo Oliveira as “one of the most authentic voices of the Azorean soul,” adding that his death has left both Azorean and Portuguese culture “poorer.”
Álamo Oliveira’s education began at the Seminary of Angra do Heroísmo, where he received a classical education that would later shape the philosophical and religious undertones of his literary works. He was largely self-taught and became widely respected for his intellectual rigor.
Oliveira was also widely regarded for his deep knowledge of classical and modern literature. He developed his literary voice and dramaturgical skills independently, becoming a prominent cultural figure through writing and publishing.
Oliveira published about 40 books, including poetry, novels, short stories, essays, and plays. His work has been translated into English, French, Spanish, Italian, Slovenian, Croatian, and Japanese. His writings frequently explore emigration and identity by reflecting on the emotional and cultural experience of the Azorean diaspora. He wrote and directed numerous stage productions, blending dramatic structure with literary depth and a strong sense of Azorean identity.
Among his most acclaimed works are Já não gosto de chocolates, a poignant novel about Azorean emigration to California; Até hoje (Memórias de Cão), winner of the Maré Viva Prize in 1985; and A Solidão da Casa do Regalo, which earned him the Almeida Garrett Prize in 1999.
A passionate advocate for Azorean culture, a lover of music and theater, Oliveira co-founded the Alpendre Theatre Group in Angra do Heroísmo, one of the region’s most enduring theatrical institutions. He also played a key role in publishing and cultural promotion as co-founder of Edições Salamandra, a small press dedicated to Azorean authors.
In 2002, Álamo Oliveira became the first Portuguese writer-in-residence at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught his literary works and engaged with the Portuguese Studies Program. His residency helped solidify and deepen his ties with the Azorean diaspora.
His 2005 play Bocas de Mulheres (“The Mouths of Women”) was toured across California with great success, performed by Azorean actors for Portuguese-American audiences. The play premiered at Berkeley’s Durham Theatre on April 23, 2005, with the Alpendre Theatre Group from the Azores.
In early April 2006, the same troupe toured California (including Berkeley, Gilroy, Turlock, and Tulare) to present the play and honor the release of his translated novel I No Longer Like Chocolates (English version of Já não gosto de chocolates).
His time in the U.S. included public lectures, readings, and events celebrating the Azorean immigrant experience in California. These engagements helped raise awareness of his writing and Azorean literature more broadly in North America.
Throughout his life, Oliveira received prestigious civic awards and honors, being named Comendador da Ordem de Mérito by the President of Portugal and the Insígnia Autonómica de Reconhecimento from the Government of the Azores.
Álamo Oliveira, a celebrated literary figure in Portuguese and Azorean culture, will be remembered not only as a writer of deep insight and lyrical beauty but also as a tireless cultural ambassador who gave voice to the stories, struggles, and spirit of the Azores and their diaspora.
Carolina Matos/ Editor
