History of Cape Verde

Cape Verdean history is a story of salt, migration, adaptation, and cultural blending shaped by centuries of Atlantic exchange.

History of the Archipelago

Cape Verdean history is profoundly shaped by its geography — ten volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic that were uninhabited until the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century. The archipelago became a pivotal stop in transatlantic trade, particularly in the slave trade, which brought African populations to the islands and laid the foundations for a Creole culture that is neither entirely African nor European, but distinctly Cape Verdean.

For centuries, the islands served as a resupply point for ships and a marginal outpost in the Portuguese empire, often neglected and vulnerable to droughts and famine. Despite these hardships, Cape Verde developed a strong sense of identity rooted in language, music, migration, and mutual aid. Independence was achieved peacefully in 1975, and since then, the country has maintained relative political stability.

Today, its history is reflected in its Creole language, diasporic ties, and a cultural resilience that continues to shape everyday life.

Abandoned Salt Shed: the Old Ghost of Pedra de Lume

Abandoned Salt Shed: the Old Ghost of Pedra de Lume

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Cabo Verde in a Nutshell: History, Culture, Politics & Art

Cabo Verde in a Nutshell: History, Culture, Politics & Art

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Cape Verde comprises ten islands, of which nine are inhabited, and is located 375 miles (600 kilometres) off the coast of Senegal. The combined area of all the islands is 1,557 square miles (4,033 square kilometres), roughly the size of Rhode Island. The islands vary in geographical characteristics. Sal, Boavista, Maio, and São Vicente are flat and desert-like, with stretches of dunes. Santiago, Santo Antão, Fogo, and São Nicolau are more mountainous and arable, although all the islands have a long history of drought. They are all of volcanic origin; Fogo, the only volcano that is still active, last erupted in 1995. The capital, Praia, is on the island of Santiago, which is the largest in terms of area and population and the first settled.

Cape Verde’s Empresarias: Image and Reality

Cape Verde’s Empresarias: Image and Reality

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