"a portuguesa" ), meaning "song of the portuguese" ( 'the portuguese [song]') is the national anthem of portugal, adopted in 1911. it was composed by alfredo keil, and its lyrics (words) were written by henrique lopes de mendonça in response to the british ultimatum for portuguese troops to get rid of their positions in africa between the (now former) colonies of mozambique and angola in the (also known as the pink map).