Victory is certain
Another Day of Life“Victory is certain” is an MPLA slogan repeated by Oscar and reinforced by Comandante Ju-Ju’s daily radio communiqués. Its decisive significance lies in the gap between reassurance and reality: when optimism denies the severity of the war, it risks quieting not only panic but also the effort and judgment needed to respond.
Reassurance as a public refrain
In the search for reliable information, Oscar is one of the few remaining sources available. Dona Cartagina is occupied with cleaning and speaks only Portuguese, making communication difficult; Felix gives terse, matter-of-fact answers. Oscar, by contrast, invariably repeats MPLA slogans, including “Victory is certain.” The phrase offers a clear answer where the situation is opaque, but its very consistency makes it poor guidance for anyone trying to understand what is happening.
The slogan also circulates through Comandante Ju-Ju’s evening radio communiqué on the front. The broadcast is described as very optimistic, even though half the country is in enemy hands. The contrast is not between two equally plausible reports: the communiqué’s confidence sits against an unmistakably grave military situation. Repetition turns certainty into a public line, not evidence that victory is near.
Denial and its costs
“Victory is certain” belongs to the broader principle “Don’t take reality into account.” That principle is meant to work like a sleeping pill: to prevent panic, doubt, and hysteria. Yet the account identifies a practical contradiction. People cannot be urged to act at a decisive moment while being kept unaware of how serious the danger is. If conditions are presented as already favorable, there seems little reason to exert oneself.
The result is more damaging than simple confusion. Appeals to defend the city sit beside assurances that everything is going well, leaving people unable to reconcile the demand for urgency with the message of success. Rather than producing confidence, the contradiction leads to a loss of faith. At the hour of decision, people may trust no one; even the instinct of self-preservation can be blunted.
Narrative function
The phrase functions both as a slogan and as a measure of the distance between official optimism and lived uncertainty. Oscar’s repeated certainty contrasts with Felix’s single-word description of the situation, “Confusão,” while Ju-Ju’s broadcasts place the same optimism on the radio. The account does not treat reassurance as harmless morale-building: detached from the facts, it can discourage exertion and weaken trust precisely when action matters most.
