“I have my eyes fixed ahead”: A contribution to the African literary landscape

Resumo

This exploratory and conceptual paper aims to demonstrate the relevance of literary heritage to enhance the tourist experience and development of the Chão Bom Resistance Museum in Tarrafal (Cape Verde). This study contributes to the construction of the African literary landscape and fills the gap in the research on literary tourism in African destinations. Methodologically, the paper analyses primary and secondary data to identify literary texts and authors associated with the site that can help shape the site's literary landscape and suggest literary tourism products and experiences be implemented at the museum. The study is grounded in literary tourism studies, in the notion that literature can play a significant testimonial and enhancing role in tourism. It reviews the literature on literary tourism in African destinations. The main findings point towards a substantive gap in the literature concerning literary tourism in African countries and a need for cultural promotion of literary tourist destinations aimed at both literary and non-literary tourists.