Culture and traditions Cape Verde

 Traditions and customs

Games (awalé, cards, draughts, etc.) are played at any time of the day: at the aperitif, after work, and even during funeral vigils, as here the dead are watched over for a whole night before being buried. You can bargain in the markets, but be careful not to come across as too pushy.

 To read, see, listen

guide Cape Verde Islands (Bradt Travel Guide).
Lonely Planet: Senegal, Capo Verde, Gambia, Guinea .


books "Antonio's Island: Cape Verde", by Marcelo Gomes Balla


movies
music

"Alma de morna", compilation of Cape Verdean music. Ed Lusafrica.
"Di Korpu Ku Alma" Lura. 2004
"Incondicional" Ildo Lobo
"Nos Mornas" or "Intelectal" Ildo Lobo

Various musical styles co-exist in Cape Verde.
La Morna - music providing a mixture of Portuguese fado, African rhythms (the Angolan lundum) and also the Argentinian tango - is without doubt the style that is closest to the Cape Verdean soul (the famous sodade). It was born in the 18th century on the island of Boa Vista. It combines the guitar, the cavaquinho (small guitar with 4 strings) and the violin.
Cesaria Evora and Bana are the most popular performers of it.
The other two well-known musical styles are Coladeira (Afro-Brazilian rhythms), and Funana (particularly on Santiago, a style close to the Antillean zouk). Batuque and Finaçon are in a more traditional style, and their sung dialogues accompanied by African percussion go back to the times of slavery. Introduced in the 16th century, the Mazurca and Contradança are still quite popular on Santo Antao and Sao Nicolau.