Cape Verde's Global Diaspora: Saudade, Return & Crioulo Identity
More Cape Verdeans live abroad than on the islands — the diaspora in Lisbon, Rotterdam, Boston, and Dakar maintains an intense connection to the homeland through music, remittances, and return visits
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Diaspora Return Culture
During the August weekend, the Cape Verdean diaspora returns from Europe and America – the population temporarily doubles, music fills the streets and the islands feel like the center of a global community
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Crioulo Language Identity
Cape Verdean Crioulo is the mother tongue of all Cape Verdeans — a Portuguese-African creole that is the true language of emotion, music and identity, while Portuguese remains the official
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American Cape Verdean Community
New Bedford, Massachusetts has the oldest Cape Verdean community outside the islands — whaling ships brought Cape Verdean sailors to New England beginning in the 1800s
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Lisbon Mouraria Cape Verdean Quarter
The Mouraria area of Lisbon has a large Cape Verdean community — Cape Verdean restaurants, music venues and community organizations that maintain island culture in the diaspora
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Remittance Economy
Cape Verde receives remittances equivalent to a significant share of its GDP — the financial support of the diaspora has made Cape Verde one of Africa's most stable and developed small states
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Festival da Gamboa Praia
The annual Festival da Gamboa in Praia attracts Cape Verdean musicians from across the diaspora – a celebration of Crioulo culture that brings the global community home for a week of concerts