A forthcoming work of narrative non-fiction by writer and photographer Ricci Shryock explores the vital, yet frequently overlooked, contributions of female combatants during Guinea-Bissau’s independence struggle against Portuguese colonial rule.
Published by Cassava Republic Press on September 24, 2026, The Moon Will Not Burn Us traces the 11-year conflict through the firsthand testimonies of participants including Joana Gomes and Francesca Pereira.
The book centres on Joana Gomes, who joined the liberation movement at 13 years old following the murder of her father. Alongside other female fighters operating under the leadership of Amílcar Cabral, Gomes became integral to an armed campaign that ultimately helped conclude a century of Portuguese colonialism, spurred a revolution in Portugal, and resonated globally. Despite the historical significance of their victory, the women who sustained the conflict were largely left to bear the personal costs of the struggle while their stories faded from mainstream history.
Drawing on nearly 20 years of reporting experience in West Africa, extensive archival research, and direct interviews, Shryock aims to restore these figures to the centre of the continent’s historical narrative. The hardback publication is positioned as a timely examination of resistance, colonial history, and the ongoing process of decolonisation.