Cabo Verde - Music, Cuisine, Festivals

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A number of the holidays celebrated in Cabo Verde—including Easter, the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints’ Day, and Christmas—reflect the country’s majority Roman Catholic tradition. Other holidays include National Heroes’ Day, Children’s Day, and Independence Day, which are observed on January 20, June 1, and July 5, respectively. The cultural synthesis that forms Cabo Verdean artistic tradition" /> <meta name="keywords" content="Cabo Verde, encyclopedia, encyclopeadia, britannica, article" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life" /> <title>Cabo Verde - Music, Cuisine, Festivals | Britannica</title>  <script> !function(){"use strict";function e(e){const t=e.match(/((?=([a-z0-9._!#$%+^&*()[\]<>-]+))\2@[a-z0-9._-]+\.[a-z0-9._-]+)/gi);return t?t[0]:""}function t(t){return e(a(t.toLowerCase()))}function a(e){return e.replace(/\s/g,"")}async function n(e){const t={sha256Hash:"",sha1Hash:""};if(!("msCrypto"in window)&&"https:"===location.protocol&&"crypto"in window&&"TextEncoder"in window){const a=(new TextEncoder).encode(e),[n,c]=await Promise.all([s("SHA-256",a),s("SHA-1",a)]);t.sha256Hash=n,t.sha1Hash=c}return t}async function s(e,t){const a=await crypto.subtle.digest(e,t);return Array.from(new Uint8Array(a)).map(e=>("00"+e.toString(16)).slice(-2)).join("")}function c(e){let t=!0;return Object.keys(e).forEach(a=>{0===e[a].length&&(t=!1)}),t}function i(e,t,a){e.splice(t,1);const n="?"+e.join("&")+a.hash;history.replaceState(null,"",n)}var o={checkEmail:e,validateEmail:t,trimInput:a,hashEmail:n,hasHashes:c,removeEmailAndReplaceHistory:i,detectEmails:async function(){const e=new URL(window.location.href),a=Array.from(e.searchParams.entries()).map(e=>`=`);let s,o;const r=["adt_eih","sh_kit"];if(a.forEach((e,t)=>{const a=decodeURIComponent(e),[n,c]=a.split("=");if("adt_ei"===n&&(s={value:c,index:t,emsrc:"url"}),r.includes(n)){o={value:c,index:t,emsrc:"sh_kit"===n?"urlhck":"urlh"}}}),s)t(s.value)&&n(s.value).then(e=>{if(c(e)){const t={value:e,created:Date.now()};localStorage.setItem("adt_ei",JSON.stringify(t)),localStorage.setItem("adt_emsrc",s.emsrc)}});else if(o){const e={value:{sha256Hash:o.value,sha1Hash:""},created:Date.now()};localStorage.setItem("adt_ei",JSON.stringify(e)),localStorage.setItem("adt_emsrc",o.emsrc)}s&&i(a,s.index,e),o&&i(a,o.index,e)},cb:"adthrive"};const{detectEmails:r,cb:l}=o;r()}(); 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The two are much blended in the cultural life of Cabo Verde, evidence of which is apparent in the country’s literary, musical, and artistic production. A number of the holidays celebrated in Cabo Verde—including Easter, the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints’ Day, and Christmas—reflect the country’s majority Roman Catholic tradition. Other holidays include National Heroes’ Day, Children’s Day, and Independence Day, which are observed on January 20, June 1, and July 5, respectively. The cultural synthesis that forms Cabo Verdean artistic tradition"/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Cabo Verde - Music, Cuisine, Festivals | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Cabo Verde - Music, Cuisine, Festivals: Although five centuries of Portuguese colonial culture have dominated the islands, traditions from Africa are also present. The two are much blended in the cultural life of Cabo Verde, evidence of which is apparent in the country’s literary, musical, and artistic production. A number of the holidays celebrated in Cabo Verde—including Easter, the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints’ Day, and Christmas—reflect the country’s majority Roman Catholic tradition. Other holidays include National Heroes’ Day, Children’s Day, and Independence Day, which are observed on January 20, June 1, and July 5, respectively. 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A number of the holidays celebrated in Cabo Verde—including Easter, the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints’ Day, and Christmas—reflect the country’s majority Roman Catholic tradition. Other holidays include National Heroes’ Day, Children’s Day, and Independence Day, which are observed on January 20, June 1, and July 5, respectively. 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class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cabo-Verde">Cabo Verde</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Cabo-Verde">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref54900"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref54900">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54901"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref54901">Relief, drainage, and soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54902"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref54902">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54903"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref54903">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref54905"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref54905">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281230"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref281230">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281231"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde#ref281231">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281232"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54904"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref54904">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281233"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref281233">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref54906"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref54906">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54908"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref54908">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54907"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref54907">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54909"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref54909">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281234"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Religion#ref281234">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281235"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281236"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281236">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281237"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281237">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54910"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref54910">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref54911"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref54911">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281238"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281238">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281239"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281239">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281240"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281240">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281241"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281241">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281242"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref281242">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54914"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref54914">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref54913"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Trade#ref54913">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref54915"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281243"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life#ref281243">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281244"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life#ref281244">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281245"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life#ref281245">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281246"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life#ref281246">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref281268"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life#ref281268">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281269"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Cultural-life#ref281269">Early and colonial history</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281270"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Struggle-for-independence">Struggle for independence</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref281271"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Cabo-Verde/Struggle-for-independence#ref281271">Independence</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cabo-Verde/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Cabo-Verde">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cabo-Verde/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/5044-050-2530FC16/Flag-Cabo-Verde.jpg" data-href="/media/1/93703/61935" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/5044-004-DEEC9E26/Flag-Cabo-Verde.jpg" alt="Cabo 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/cape-verde-virtual-jewish-history-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Jewish Virtual Library - Cape Verde</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://travel.gov.cv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Official Tourism Site of Cabo Verde</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/cabo-verde" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">South African History Online - Cabo Verde</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/R44756.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Federation of American Scientists - Cabo Verde: Background and U.S. Relations (PDF)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cabo-verde/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Cabo Verde</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/cabo-verde" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Michigan State University - globalEDGE - Cabo Verde: Introduction</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/cv-economy.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">GlobalSecurity.org - Cabo Verde - Economy</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Cabo-Verde/345662" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cabo Verde - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Cabo-Verde/273505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cabo Verde - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Cape Verde, República de Cabo Verde, Republic of Cape Verde</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Richard-Andrew-Lobban/4773" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Richard Andrew Lobban</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Rhode Island College; Adjunct Professor of African Studies, Naval War College (Rhode Island). Co-author of <em>Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cape Verde.</em></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Richard Andrew Lobban</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/W-Mary-Bannerman/163" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">W. Mary Bannerman</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Coauthor of <i>The Birds of the Atlantic Islands (</i>4 vol.<i>).</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> W. Mary Bannerman</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cabo-Verde/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-07T00:00:00CST" >Feb 7, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cabo-Verde/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <span class="marker before-article"></span><span class="marker h6"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref54915">  <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Although five centuries of Portuguese colonial <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> have dominated the islands, traditions from Africa are also present. The two are much blended in the cultural life of Cabo Verde, evidence of which is apparent in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country’s</a> literary, musical, and artistic production.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">A number of the holidays celebrated in Cabo Verde—including <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Easter</a>, the Feast of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Assumption-Christianity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Assumption</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/All-Saints-Day" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">All Saints’ Day</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christmas</a>—reflect the country’s majority Roman Catholic tradition. Other holidays include National Heroes’ Day, Children’s Day, and Independence Day, which are observed on January 20, June 1, and July 5, respectively.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref281243"> <h2 class="h2">The arts</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The cultural synthesis that forms Cabo Verdean artistic tradition is notable in the rich body of oral narratives known as Nho Lobo tales, for example, which include the characters of Ti Lobo and Chibinho, both of whom have their counterparts in western African folklore. Musical traditions from Africa are reborn in Cabo Verde as <em><span id="ref1029489"></span>batuko</em> (derived from the Portuguese verb meaning “to beat”), a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="genre" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genre" data-type="MW">genre</a> that features polyrhythm and call and response performed by a group of women. European traditions are revealed in the <em><span id="ref516601"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/morna" class="md-crosslink ">morna</a></em>, a lament comparable to the Portuguese fado, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/mazurka" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mazurka</a>. Other styles include the <em>funana</em>, a fast-paced genre that features the <em>gaita</em>, an accordion-like instrument, and the <em>finaçon</em>, often performed by women in conjunction with a <em>batuko</em> session. <span id="ref1029509"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cesaria-Evora" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cesaria Evora</a>, one of Cabo Verde’s most popular musicians, is famous both within the islands and abroad for her <em>mornas</em> and <em>coladeras</em> (<em>mornas</em> with a faster tempo).</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Since the late 19th century, Cabo Verde has produced some outstanding writers and poets. Between 1936 and 1960 the cultural magazine <em><span id="ref516602"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Claridade" class="md-crosslink ">Claridade</a></em> (“Clarity”) was the centre of an artistic movement that marked a break with Portuguese literary traditions and established a Cabo Verdean identity. <span id="ref516603"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Baltasar-Lopes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Baltasar Lopes da Silva</a>, who used the pseudonym Osvaldo Alcântara for his poetry, and <span id="ref1029510"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eugenio-de-Paulo-Tavares" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eugénio Tavares</a> are key figures from this period. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="Subsequent" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Subsequent" data-type="EB">Subsequent</a> writers have extended the movement’s interest in the Crioulo culture to use that language as well as Portuguese.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref281244"> <h2 class="h2">Cultural institutions</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">There is an ethnographic museum of culture and history in Praia. The National Historic Archive, which contains important documents, including some that relate to the history of the slave trade, is located in Praia. Cultural influences from the colonial era are evident in the town of <span id="ref1046357"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ribeira-Grande" class="md-crosslink ">Cidade Velha</a>, located on the island of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sao-Tiago-Island" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Santiago</a>. Initially founded as Ribeira Grande by Portuguese settlers in the 15th century, the town is noted for the many examples of colonial architecture found in its historic centre, which was designated a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/UNESCO" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">UNESCO</a> <span id="ref1046358"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Heritage-site" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Heritage site</a> in 2009. </p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref281245"> <h2 class="h2">Sports and recreation</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Although Cabo Verdeans enjoy a variety of sports, football (soccer) is perhaps the most popular. Matches are played at all levels of society, from pickup street games with improvised balls, fields, and nets to interscholastic rivalries and competitions between the Sotavento and Barlavento islands. Interest in basketball is growing. Long-distance running, swimming, and the traditional African board game of <em>ouri</em> are popular pastimes. Windsurfing, fishing, cycling, golfing, hiking, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/mountaineering" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">mountain climbing</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/horsemanship" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">horseback riding</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/scuba-diving" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">scuba diving</a> are common resort activities. In their various <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diaspora" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaspora" data-type="MW">diaspora</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="communities" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communities" data-type="MW">communities</a>, many Cabo Verdeans have distinguished themselves in sports and athletic achievements, especially in football, boxing, and baseball.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Cabo Verde’s Olympic committee was formed in 1989 and recognized by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">International Olympic Committee</a> in 1993. The team subsequently made its <a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Olympic</a> debut at the 1996 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Summer Games</a> in Atlanta.</p><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref281246"> <h2 class="h2">Media and publishing</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Television and radio stations offer programming in both Portuguese and Crioulo. Print media such as <em>A Semana</em>, <em>Terra Nova</em>, and <em><span id="ref516605"></span>Voz di Povo</em>—all issued in Portuguese—are published. Freedom of the press, guaranteed by the constitution, is generally honoured. Portuguese and foreign-language books have a small but established <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/market" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">market</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> </section> <span class="marker h7"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref281268"> <h2 class="h1"><span id="ref516606"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Cabo-Verde" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">History</a></h2> <section data-level="2" id="ref281269"> <h2 class="h2">Early and colonial history</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Although there is no conclusive <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/evidence-law" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">evidence</a> that the islands were <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="inhabited" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/inhabited" data-type="EB">inhabited</a> before the arrival of the Portuguese, cases may be made for visits by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Phoenicia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Phoenicians</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moor-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Moors</a>, and Africans in previous centuries. It was <span id="ref516607"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Portugal" class="md-crosslink ">Portuguese</a> navigators such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Diogo-Gomes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Diogo Gomes</a> and Diogo Afonso, Venetian explorer <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alvise-Ca-da-Mosto" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Alvise Ca’ da Mosto</a>, and Genoese navigators such as António and Bartólomeu da Noli, however, who began to report on the islands in the mid-15th century, shortly before a plan of active colonization and settlement was launched.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1462 the first settlers from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Portugal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Portugal</a> landed on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sao-Tiago-Island" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">São Tiago (Santiago)</a>, subsequently founding there the oldest European city in the tropics—<span id="ref516608"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ribeira-Grande" class="md-crosslink ">Ribeira Grande</a> (now Cidade Velha). <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sugar-chemical-compound" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sugar</a> was planted in an attempt to emulate the success of the earlier settlement of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Madeira-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Madeira</a>. Cabo Verde’s dry <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-meteorology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">climate</a> was less favourable, but, with the development of the transatlantic <span id="ref1029529"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/slave-trade" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">slave trade</a>, the importance and wealth of the islands increased.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Cabo Verde served an increasingly important role as an offshore entrepôt with the development of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/triangular-trade" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">triangular trade</a>, by which manufactured goods from Europe were traded for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slave-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">slaves</a>, who were sold in turn to plantations in the New World in exchange for the raw materials produced there; with these the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/ship" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ships</a> returned home. Cabo Verde was thus a centre for the trade of cheap manufactured items, firearms, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Rum-island-Scotland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rum</a>, cloth, and the like in exchange for slaves, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/ivory" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ivory</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gold-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gold</a>. Cabo Verde was especially known for its <em>pano</em> cloths, usually constructed of six strips of fabric made from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/cotton-fibre-and-plant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cotton</a> that was grown, dyed dark <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/indigo-dye" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">indigo</a>, and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="woven" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/woven" data-type="EB">woven</a> on narrow looms by slaves in Cabo Verde; the cloths were a valuable form of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/currency" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">currency</a> for the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/slave-trade" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">slave trade</a> on the mainland. Tens of thousands of slaves were exported from the coast to the islands and then on to the New World, especially to northern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Brazil</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Portuguese efforts to monopolize exploration and trade along the western African coast were disrupted by those who saw the potential of the wealth of Africa for their own interests, and smuggling was rife. Although the slave trade was controlled through the crown-issued monopoly contracts, in the late 16th century the English and Spanish began to wear away the Portuguese monopoly. In addition, the prosperity of <span id="ref1029530"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ribeira-Grande" class="md-crosslink ">Ribeira Grande</a> attracted pirates, who attacked the city in 1541. The English later attacked it twice—in 1585 and 1592—the first time under the command of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Drake" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sir Francis Drake</a>. After a French attack in 1712, it was decided to move the capital to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Praia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Praia</a>. With the transfer officially complete in 1770, Ribeira Grande began its long slow decline.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="waning" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/waning" data-type="EB">waning</a> of the <span id="ref1029531"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/slave-trade" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">slave trade</a>—the Portuguese rulers and merchants reluctantly abandoned the industry in 1876—coupled with increasing drought slowly sapped the islands’ prosperity. In the early 1800s Cabo Verde experienced not only recurrent drought and famine but <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/government" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">government</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/corruption-law" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">corruption</a> and maladministration as well. In the mid-1850s the islands enjoyed a period of economic optimism as the age of steam replaced the age of sail, and large long-distance oceanic vessels needed strategic coaling stations such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mindelo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mindelo</a> could provide. As a result, Cabo Verde was briefly the site of great <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/port-wine" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">port</a> activity, before the opening of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Suez-Canal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Suez Canal</a> in 1869 cut severely into this business. For the wider population there was little relief or improvement, and emigration from the islands became the norm: faced with the prospect of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="drought" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/drought" data-type="EB">drought</a> and starvation at home, the poorest Cabo Verdeans commonly traveled south to work as agricultural labourers picking bananas and cocoa beans in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sao-Tome-and-Principe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sao Tome and Principe</a>; others found maritime work on whaling ships.</p><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> </section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":4,"pagesTotal":5,"pageId":93703,"pageLength":1223,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":4,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Cabo Verde - Music, Cuisine, Festivals | Britannica