Cape Verde has a unique culture of art, music and colors that captivate those who are passing through, those who live there and those who eventually decide to stay. Life flows slowly, relaxed, “no stress”, but that doesn’t mean the islands don’t offer entertainment, social life, live concerts, art exhibits, events, not to forget the Carnival that year after year grows and conquers more and more of the rest of the world.
Cape Verde Carnival
Also known as the “Creole Festival”, carnival in Cape Verde is now considered the country’s main celebration. A much-awaited event for locals and an enthralling one for tourists, the streets are filled with people and colorful, dancing parades to African and Caribbean rhythms, with the sole aim of celebrating and sharing “good vibes”.
If you are curious and planning to witness this beauty, it is held in February or March, culminating in Mardi Gras, an ideal time to visit the island and find mild weather while it is winter in most of the rest of the world.
The Carnival of Mindelo, on the island of Sao Vicente, is by far the largest organized carnival in Cape Verde, with the electrifying atmosphere and influence typical of Brazil’s most famous carnival. Also very heartfelt and popular is the Carnival in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, as well as on the island of Sal, in the pedestrian streets of Santa Maria.
La Morna, the music of Cape Verde
Frantic and tribal in origin, punctuated by drums and other traditional instruments, Cape Verdean music is precious, conveys historicity and is an integral part and essence of life on the island.
The styles of music that are heard and danced to in Cape Verde are actually many (zouk, coladeira, kizomba, funana just to name a few), but Morna is undoubtedly the most popular and identifying to the point that it has even been proclaimed an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. It is characterized by a slow tempo, around 60 bpm, and sad, melancholy tones. The world’s best-known performer of this Cape Verdean music genre is Cesária Évora, the “barefoot diva” for her strictly no-shoe performances as a symbol of solidarity for poor women and children.
Each year there is also a dedicated International Festival held right in the small town of Santa Maria on the island of Sal. If you are lucky enough to savor this experience, you will find yourself humming tunes you didn’t know you knew and perhaps dancing for no apparent reason when you return…
Cape Verde’s local handicrafts
We all agree that typical handicrafts of a place often do not have a relevant economic value, but rather a meaning that goes beyond that, a cultural value that represents local people, daily lives, and traditions passed down through time.
One of the typical items, which is also considered a true national symbol, is the Pano de Terra, a handmade fabric worked on a traditional loom, whose value is also linked to the processing time, which can be up to 8 hours. Presidents of the Cape Verdean Republic have the custom of giving it as a gift to heads of state of other countries during official meetings.
Also among the most representative souvenirs of the traditions of the islands of the Cape Verde archipelago is Grog liquor, a distillate similar to schnapps but made from the juice of sugar cane that is produced mainly on the island of Santo Antão.
Finally, we have the ceramics and terracottas from the island of Boa Vista, where a craft school can also be visited, and the lava objects and statues, which recall the geological origins of this archipelago and are produced mainly by the masters of the island of Fogo. Indeed, this material requires special skill to be transformed into small sculptures and works of art.