Baleia is a village that carries in its silence the memories of a time when it flourished in abundance

One of the greatest symbols of Baleia was, without a doubt, the traditional festival of Santaninha, which celebrated the immigration and struggle of the brave people of Brava, a people who, in search of better conditions, left for distant lands, leaving behind the echoes of their roots. But if the island suffered with the departure of its children, Baleia, in a special way, seems to have carried the pain of a history of uprooting. It is here, in the place that suffered the most from immigration, that the marks of longing and loneliness become most evident.

In times of prosperity, Baleia was a land of fishermen and ranchers, where the sea waters and fertile land fed those who lived there. But that scenario has changed. Today, the few residents who still resist the passing of time see their town silenced and forgotten. The absence of children running through the streets and the echo of laughter has been lost, replaced by the sound of the winds that, at times, seem to carry with them the sadness of a desolate land.

Immigration, which has been Baleia's fate for so long, is undoubtedly one of the main factors in this reality. The isolation of the town, located far from the easiest access points and without a road that allows cars to reach it, has only intensified the abandonment. Those who still live there seek, in the proximity of more accessible areas, a way to make life easier, which has undoubtedly become more difficult.

Even so, Baleia continues to be a place of friendly and hospitable people, where the morabeza – a characteristic of genuine warmth and affection – remains alive. Anyone who arrives there feels at home, surrounded by the warmth and simplicity of its people. Baleia may be distant and isolated, but for those who know its essence, it will always be a symbol of resistance and love for the land.

I, who was born in Baleia, cannot help but feel emotional when I think of its empty streets and the emptiness that has taken over the valley. However, the love for this land, for its people, will never be forgotten. And it is with the hope of better days that I look to the future, wishing that Baleia will recover at least a little of the vitality it once had. Because, for all of us who have somehow passed through there, Baleia will always be a piece of our hearts, a memory that will never be erased.

Baleia, the place I will always love, will always be remembered and celebrated by all those who have had the privilege of knowing its beauty, its traditions and its people.

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Text by Gambiano Gomes

Photography by Joaquim Martins