Paulo Cuco, with the pseudodomius of Mulahleki Sambu, was born in Lipango, Manjacaze District, Gaza Province, on July 27, 1939. He attended primary education at the School of St. Joseph of Mafangue and the Mission of St. Benedict of the Muchopes, where he completed the fourth class in 1953.

Between 1954 and 1957 he attended the Alvor School of Indigine Teachers in the Manhiça District. In 1966 he completed the primary teaching course "Cardeal Gouveia" in the then city of Lourenço Marques. He studied Pastoral Theology at ISMMA.

He is an equivalent bachelor in Education Sciences, graduated in Planning, Administration and Education Management from the Pedagogical University, and completed his master's degree in Design of Education Systems at the same University.

He worked as a teacher successively in schools: Primary of Munhuana and Our Lady of Conception, both in Maputo City; in Alua Primary School, Erati District, Nampula Province; Chidenguele Primary School, Manjacaze District, Gaza Province. As senior member of the Ministry of Education and Culture, he was Head of the National Primary Education Service, Head of the Department of School Material, Provincial Director of Education and Culture of Cabo Delgado, National Education Inspector, and retired in 1992 as Head of Department.

Son of a mining father in South Africa and peasant mother, during the first fourteen years, lived in the village of Lipango, participating in the leaders of machamba; in games, games and tertulias, having as companions some of the characters mentioned in the book, mainly Feteni, his friend, counselor and instructor in the hunt for birds and rats. Married to Marta Mangue since 1966, he is the father of seven children.