Cape Verde (Portuguese: Cabo Verde) is a republic located on an archipelago of the North Atlantic Ocean, off the western coast of Africa. The previously-uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading centre for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups.

"Cape Verde" is named for Cap-Vert, now in Senegal, the westernmost point of Africa.

República de Cabo Verde

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Unity, Work, Progress
Official language	Portuguese (official) and nine Portuguese creoles
Capital and Largest City	Praia
President	Pedro Pires
Prime Minister	José Maria Neves
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 146th 4,033 km² Negligible
Population  - Total (2001)  - Density	Ranked 164th 401,343 101/km²
GDP (PPP)  - Total  - GDP/head	600 millions $ 1,400 $
Currency	CV Escudo
Time zone	UTC -1
Independence  - Recognized	(from Portugal) July 5, 1975
National anthem	Cântico da Liberdade
Internet TLD	.cv
Calling Code	238

History

Main article: History of Cape Verde

Cape Verde was uninhabited when the Portuguese arrived in 1456, and the islands were thus made part of the Portuguese empire. Due to its location off the coast of Africa, Cape Verde became an important port, and was a major center of the slave trade.

In 1975, the islands achieved independence, partially due to the efforts of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC). After independence, the PAIGC attempted to unite Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau into one nation, the PAIGC controlling both governments, but a coup in the latter nation in 1980 ended these plans. In Cape Verde itself the PAICV (affiliated with the PAIGC) governed until elections were held in 1991 that resulted in a change of government. The PAICV was re-elected in 2001.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Cape Verde

The government of Cape Verde is based on a Constitution that was established in 1980. Elections are held for both the Prime Minister and President, who both govern for 5-year terms. Members of the General Assembly are elected as well, and they appoint the Supreme Court along with the President and Prime Minister.

See also: President of Cape Verde, National symbols

Geography

Main article: Geography of Cape Verde

Cape Verde is an archipelago off the coast of Africa. It is formed by 10 main islands and about 8 islets. The main islands are:

• Barlaventos (northern island group)
  • Santo Antão
  • São Vicente
  • Santa Luzia
  • São Nicolau
  • Sal
  • Boa Vista
• Sotaventos (southern island group)
  • Maio
  • Santiago
  • Fogo
  • Brava

Of these, only Santa Luzia is uninhabited. Presently it is a Natural Reserve. All islands are volcanic, but an active volcano exists on one of the islands, Fogo. See Mount Fogo.

The islets are Branco, Razo.

Municipalities

Cape Verde is divided into 17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho):

• Santo Antão island:
  • Paúl
  • Porto Novo
  • Ribeira Grande
• São Vicente island:
  • São Vicente
• Santa Luzia island (included in S. Vicente concelho)
• São Nicolau island:
  • São Nicolau
• Sal island:
  • Sal
• Boa Vista island:
  • Boa Vista
• Maio island:
  • Maio
• Santiago island:
  • Praia
  • Santa Catarina
  • Santa Cruz
  • São Domingos
  • São Miguel
  • Tarrafal
• Fogo island:
  • São Filipe
  • Mosteiros
• Brava island:
  • Brava

Economy

Main article: Economy of Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a small nation that lacks resources and has experienced severe droughts as well as water shortages. Agriculture is somewhat stymied by lack of rain, and is restricted to only four islands for most of the year. Most of the nation's GDP is from the services industry. Cape Verde has a large cooperation with Portugal in every level of the economy, leading it to make its currency fixed to the Euro and a growing economy. Former Portuguese prime minister José Manuel Durão Barroso, now (second semester 2004) president of the European Commission, has promised to help integrate Cape Verde within the European Union influence packed with a greater cooperation with Portugal. Cape Verde's economy has largely grown since the late 1990s, and is now considered a country of average human development. The Cape Verdean escudo is since 1999, through the Portuguese escudo, linked with the Euro.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Cape Verde

Most inhabitants of Cape Verde are descendants of the white Portuguese settlers and black African slaves. More Cape Verdians live abroad than in Cape Verde, with significant emigrant Cape Verdian communities in the United States of America (264,900 Cape Verdians), Portugal (80,000) and Angola (45,000). There are also significant number of Cape Verdians in São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, France and the Netherlands.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Cape Verde

The culture of Cape Verde reflects its mixed Portuguese and African roots. It is well known for its diverse forms of music (such as Morna, Capeverdian Fado) and dance (such as Funana , mixed Portuguese and African dance), that are reflective of the diverse origins of Cape Verde's residents. Indigenously, the term "Cabo" is used to refer to residents as well as the culture of Cape Verde.

• See also: List of writers from Cape Verde
• See also: List of painters from Cape Verde

Language

Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese, but Portuguese Creoles (Crioulo, Criol, Krioulo, Caboverdiano) are widely used. Each of the 9 inhabited islands of Cape Verde has its own creole. We can distinguish between two main groups:

• Sotavento Creoles: Creole of Santiago (Badiu), Maio, Fogo and Brava.
• Barlavento Creoles: Creole of São Vicente (Criol d'Soncente, Criol d' Saocente), São Nicolau, Sal, Boavista and Santo Antão

Sergio Frusoni translated Bartolomeo Rossetti 's version of the New Testament from the Roman dialect (ER VANGELO SECONNO NOANTRI) into the Capeverdean creole of São Vicente under the title Vangêle contód d'nôs móda

Creole links

• Sergio Frusoni (Work of Sergio Frusoni)
• Adriano Gominho (Creole of São Nicolau)
• "Morna aguada" from Eugenio Tavares (Creole of Brava)
• Extracts from 'OS LUSÍADAS' in the creole of Santo Antão

• Perspective on Capeverdean Crioulo by Robert French

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Cape Verde
• Transportation in Cape Verde
• Military of Cape Verde
• Foreign relations of Cape Verde
• Community of Portuguese Language Countries
• Public holidays in Cape Verde

External links and references

• Cape Verde Domain Registration Faça o registo de seu domínio
• The Cape Verdean Portal
• Cape Verde Portal
• VozDiPovo - Online newspaper
• Much of the material in these articles comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.
• Embassy of Cape Verde in the United States
• International Searchengine for Cabo Verde
• Cape Verde Photogallery
• Capeverdean cultural resource site