Luanda – The remains of the writer Alda do Espírito Santos, who passed away on Tuesday in a hospital in Luanda, headed to Sao Tome on Thursday, where they will be buried at Alto do São João Cemetery.

In order to participate in the funeral, a 25-member Angolan delegation led by Culture minister, Rosa Cruz e Silva travelled to the West African island nation to pay the last homage to the late nationalist.

Among other personalities part of the delegation are the Mozambique ambassador to Angola, António Matonse, poet Amélia da Lomba, writer Lopito Feijó, radio broadcaster Aminata Goubel the councillor minister of Sao Tome and Principe embassy to Angola, Elisa Barros and other members of Sao Tome and Principe community living in Angola.

In Portugal, where she had studied she participated in many political activities with other African politicians like Agostinho Neto (Angola), Amílcar Cabral (Cape-Verde), Marcelino dos Santos (Mozambique) and others.

Alda do Espírito Santos is the author of the national anthem of Sao Tome and Principe.

The government of the archipelago nation declared a five-day national mourning to pay homage to the late Alda do Espirito Santo.