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 women, in their specific settings, to deconstruct hegemonic patriarchal conceptions of the world. Maria Tavares is a Lecturer in Portuguese Studies at Queen's University, Belfast.