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Personal diary of a Cuban soldier in Angola, Chibemba (repurposed 1981 agenda), August 1981 – July 1982

Archive

A handmade field diary built from a repurposed commercial datebook. The printed front cover reads "[AG]ENDA 1981" in white on blue, over a reproduced illustration of standing figures with a banner. The volume has been rebound/reinforced along the spine with red-and-cream floral-patterned cloth or paper, hand-lettered in dark ink: "AGOSTO 1981 – CHIBEMBA – JULIO 1982." A strip of blue adhesive tape crosses the front cover (later repair or label). The interior holds the diarist's manuscript entries (not shown; not examined here).

2025.11.21

2025.11

Purchase

Bought from the creator.

8/1981 - 7/1982

Maker: The diarist — a Cuban soldier (identity withheld; no name is visible on the cover). The underlying printed agenda's publisher is not identified. Place of Origin: Created/used in Angola (Chibemba, Huíla Province) by a Cuban serviceman

Printed cover: "[AG]ENDA 1981." Hand-lettered spine (ink): "AGOSTO 1981 – CHIBEMBA – JULIO 1982."

Fair

Las Tunas

Cuba

Caribbean

Central America

ownership

Chibemba

Angola

Southern Africa

Africa

Angolan Civil War

Historical significance: A first-person artifact of Cuba's "internationalist" military mission in Angola (Operation Carlota). The Aug 1981–Jul 1982 span at Chibemba places the diarist in the southern front during a period of major South African incursions (Operations Konyn and Protea, 1981) — a notable primary source for Cuban material culture of the Angola deployment.