Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country spanning an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. It forms part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Savage Isles
The Cape Verde islands are hilly and mountainous (all volcanic in origin), and encircled by rugged cliffs and reefs. The archipelago holds 10 islands and 8 islets covering a total area of 1,557 sq miles (4,033 sq km). The islands are divided into two groups: the windward islands and the leeward islands.
Key Cities
Key cities in Cabo Verde include: Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria, Cova, Figueria, Santa, Cruz, Pedra Badejo, Sao Flipe, Assomada, Tarrafal
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
When Portuguese mariners discovered Cape Verde in 1456, the islands were uninhabited but fertile enough to attract the first group of settlers six years later. They founded Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha), the first European town in the tropics, on the island São Vicente.
The islands are named for the Cap Vert peninsula in West Africa, the nearest land formation. Cape Verdeans identify strongly with the culture of their individual islands.
Religious Beliefs. Ninety-eight percent of Cape Verdeans are Roman Catholic. The Nazarene church is also represented as are Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, and Evangelical Christians. There is a history of several Jewish settlements that date back to the inquisition, but they are now extinct.
Rituals and Holy Places. Each town has a church, but most Cape Verdeans are non-practicing Catholics. However, saints’ days are often the basis of community-wide parties involving dancing, drinking, and food. One family, neighborhood, or town usually takes charge of the celebration for a given saint.
Death and the Afterlife. Despite its relatively secular atmosphere, rituals surrounding the death are strictly observed. Funerals are large events attended by much of the community. The procession is accompanied by mourners who perform a highly stylized, musical wailing. Family members of the deceased dress in black for a full year after the death and are forbidden to dance or play music.
Brief Country History
The islands of Cape Verde were first settled by the Portuguese in 1462. They established their initial settlement on the island of Santiago called Ribeira Grande now modern-day Cidade Velha. They also named the island group Cabo Verde (Cape Verde). During the 16th century, the archipelago grew rich from the transatlantic trade of slaves from Africa. This attracted attacks from European privateers or pirates like the famous Sir Francis Drake who sacked Ribeira Grande in 1585. In 1770 the nearby town of Praia became the capital.
The islands suffered economic hardships with the loss of the slave trade. But the islands became an important commercial trading center because of its strategic location in the mid-Atlantic shipping lanes, ideal for re-supplying sea vessels.
Portugal changed the status of Cape Verde from colony to an overseas province in 1951 in order to discourage the population’s yearning for independence. In 1956, Cape Verdeans led by Amilcar Cabral joined the Guineans informing the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). By 1961, the PAIGC were already in open revolt against Portugal. Much of Portuguese Guinea was under control by the rebel in 1972 and Cape Verde was still under Portuguese control. Eventually, Cape Verde got its independence on July 5, 1975. In 1980, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau parted ways. A one-party rule was abandoned in favor of a multi-party system. Their constitution which took effect in 1980 was revised three times. The republic is currently one of the most stable democratic states in Africa
Language (s) Written & Spoken
The official language of instruction and government is Portuguese. But the unofficial one is spoken by most, if not all, is the Cape Verdean Creole also known as kabuverdianu or simply called “Creole” or “Kriolu”.
The official language of the islands is Portuguese, which is used in most written communication, including newspapers; however, Creole tends to be used in conversation and it’s this you’ll hear being used on a day to day basis. Creole is based on African languages but with additions from several European languages.
Important Types of Commerce in Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde, also known as Cape Verde, is a country in West Africa. Cabo Verde is comprised of ten islands, nine of which are inhabited while one is uninhabited as well as other several islets. The archipelago is split into two groups namely the Sotavento group of islands and the Barlavento group of islands.
The nation’s biggest harbor is situated at Mindelo on Sao Vicente Island. The harbor accommodates a variety of vessels and has served as an important fueling point. The nation’s climate has relatively stable temperatures and extreme aridity. When the nation gained independence, the central role in the economy was taken up by the government through the establishment of several state-owned enterprises. The government’s strategy was however not as successful and, in many ways, limited the growth of the economy. The country underwent considerable economic changes in the mid-1990s transitioning towards a market economy. The changes resulted in the decline of state-owned enterprises. In the early 2000s, the government privatized various companies including banks, utility companies, and tourism-sector entities. The nation’s economy is dependent on the Service industry with tourism, transportation, and commerce accounting for 76% of the GDP in 2014. Light industries accounted for 16% of the GDP in the same year. According to the World Bank, the country had a nominal GDP of $1.87 billion in 2014. Major Industries in the country includes:
- Tourism
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry
- Finance and Banking
- Telecommunications and Transportation
- Mining, Construction, and Energy
Language Services US and others will provide working with Cabo Verde
Doing business with Cabo Verde will require a reliable Portuguese language provider as it is the native language of virtually all Cape Verdeans. Language services needed may include but not limited to document translation, interpretation, transcription, and website localization across a wide range of general and technical areas. Additionally, translators should handle only their mother tongues.
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