Guinean soldier who was the most decorated Portuguese military officer in the history of the Portuguese Army, in Ponte Nova, Portuguese Guinea. His life story captures the complexities of African soldiers who served colonial powers. Extraordinary polyglot skills made him an essential interpreter for the Portuguese before he trained to be a commando specialising in anti-insurgency warfare. He participated in 2,412 operations against insurgencies who were battling Portuguese colonial rule. He was in Portugal recovering from a gunshot wound when independence was achieved by Guinea-Bissau in 1974. His absence from his country saved his life. The new government of Guinea-Bissau executed 7,447 black Guinea-Bissauan soldiers who served Portugal as commandos. Nevertheless, Mata was tortured by left-wing Portuguese forces when they took power in Portugal in 1975. He died of Covid-19 in 2021.