Cape Verde, Mozambique and Angola are three young nation states characterized by a long colonial past, a successful liberation war, and a post-independence socialist history. This study focuses on how the literary creations by female authors Dina Salústio (Cape Verde, 1941-), Paulina Chiziane (Mozambique, 1955-), and Rosária da Silva (Angola, 1959-) share a common modus operandi and thematic framework. By narrating the workings of patriarchy in the socialist and democratic eras, and recuperating female memories within them, they provide a contextualized reflection on the condition of Cape Verdean, Mozambican and Angolan women. At the same time, the female authors explore the strategies put forward by these