In the last Parish Assembly of Beringel, in which the proposal of the executive of the Parish Council to attribute the name of Linda de Suza to the Cultural Center of Beringel was unanimously approved.
Teolinda Joaquina de Sousa Spear, internationally known as Linda de Suza, was born in Beringel, a 22 February 1948 and emigrated to France in 1970, crossing the border ‘by leap’, to escape the enormous economic difficulties experienced in Portugal, as many fellow countrymen did not only from the parish of Beringel, as well as across the country.
Linda de Suza was an unavoidable voice for Lusophone culture and the Portuguese community., exhausting successive times the Olympia de Paris. The singer from Beringel between the end of the 1990s 70 and during the 80, was a reference of popularity in Portugal and France, being a very assiduous presence on Portuguese and Gallic television stations.
Linda de Suza recorded about 33 singles and 17 LP’s, overwhelmingly French editions. It should be noted that more than 40 millions of records worldwide.
Songs like ‘La Symphonie du Portugal’ or ainda 'The stranger', among many others from his vast discography, are emblematic songs in which the Portuguese in France easily saw themselves through the open and uncomplicated way in which they affirmed their status as an emigrant, your fight, your dreams and, always, your connection to the country, longing. The fact of singing in French was a very important form of affirmation before the host country and the public voice of all Portuguese.
Linda de Suza will be forever associated with “Mala de Cardboard” and Vila de Beringel. His story was adapted for television in 1988 in a miniseries titled “Card Bag”.
Linda de Suza remains in our memory as an example of determination and achievement. He was a French icon of Portuguese immigration and, therefore, an icon of portugal.
