Facts about Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde is an Atlantic archipelago off West Africa, with dry volcanic islands and communities shaped by seafaring and migration. Praia is the capital on Santiago. Morna music, Creole speech and food made around fish and maize connect the islands with a large diaspora.
- Capital
- Praia
- Currency
- Cabo Verde escudo (CVE)
- Language
- Portuguese; Cape Verdean Creole
Geography of Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde's islands lie in the Atlantic west of Senegal. Santiago holds Praia, while Fogo rises around a volcano and Sal is much flatter. Limited rainfall and steep terrain make freshwater and agricultural land important concerns.
- Is Cabo Verde part of mainland Africa?
- No. It is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast.
History of Cabo Verde
The islands were uninhabited before Portuguese settlement in the fifteenth century. They became a centre of Atlantic trade and enslavement. Cabo Verde gained independence in 1975, after a liberation movement connected with the struggle in Guinea-Bissau.
Languages of Cabo Verde
Portuguese is official, while Cape Verdean Creole, often called Kriolu, is widely spoken at home and in music. Creole varieties differ between islands. Portuguese and African linguistic histories meet in a language with its own grammar and cultural expression.
Culture of Cabo Verde
Morna combines song and instrumental music with themes of love, distance and longing. Cesária Évora carried it to international audiences. Funaná and batuque have other island roots, while festivals and diaspora performances keep cultural connections alive across oceans.
- What is morna?
- A Cape Verdean music and song tradition associated with longing and distance, internationally known through Cesária Évora.
Economy of Cabo Verde
Tourism supports hotels and transport, especially on islands with beach resorts. Remittances connect households with relatives abroad. Fisheries, services and small businesses also matter, while the archipelago imports many goods and faces the costs of inter-island transport.
Politics of Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde is a republic with a president and a prime minister leading the government. Multiparty politics followed the end of one-party rule in 1991. Governing dispersed islands involves balancing public services and development across very different local economies.
Nature and wildlife of Cabo Verde
Volcanic landscapes support plants adapted to dry conditions, while surrounding waters provide habitat for turtles, seabirds and marine life. Fogo's heights have different conditions from coastal plains. Conservation includes both fragile island habitats and the sea around them.
Food of Cabo Verde
Cachupa is a slow-cooked stew built around maize and beans, with vegetables and sometimes fish or meat. Fish is important across the islands. Different household versions of cachupa reflect available ingredients, local tastes and connections with relatives abroad.
- What is cachupa?
- A slow-cooked maize and bean stew, with vegetables and sometimes fish or meat.
Landmarks of Cabo Verde
Cidade Velha on Santiago preserves the historic settlement of Ribeira Grande and its Atlantic trading past. Pico do Fogo dominates its island. Mindelo's streets and harbour offer another setting, closely associated with music and maritime life.
People and society of Cabo Verde
Cabo Verdean society developed through African and European histories, with island identities and Creole culture binding communities together. Migration is central to family life. Relatives in Europe, the Americas and elsewhere maintain strong connections with the archipelago.