Native name	''República de Cabo Verde''
Conventional long name	Republic of Cape Verde
Common name	Cape Verde
Image coat	Coat of arms of Cape Verde.svg
Symbol type	National emblem
Map caption	Location of Cape Verde in the globe
Image map2	Topographic map of Cape Verde-en.svg
Map caption2	Topographic map of Cape Verde
National anthem	(Portuguese)''Song of Freedom''
Official languages	Portuguese
Regional languages	Cape Verdean Creole
Ethnic groups	Creole (mulatto) 71%African 10%European 20%
Capital	Praia
Largest city	capital
Demonym	Cape Verdean
Government type	Parliamentary republic
Leader title1	President
Leader title2	Prime Minister
Leader name1	Jorge Carlos Fonseca
Leader name2	José Maria Neves
Legislature	National Assembly
Area rank	172nd
Area magnitude	1 E9
Area km2	4,033
Area sq mi	1,557
Percent water	negligible
Population estimate	567,000
Population estimate rank	165th
Population estimate year	2010
Population census	509,000
Population census year	2009
Population density km2	125.5
Population density sq mi	325.0
Population density rank	89th
Gdp ppp	$2.167 billion
Gdp ppp year	2012
Gdp ppp per capita	$4,112.256
Gdp nominal	$1.941 billion
Gdp nominal year	2012
Gdp nominal per capita	$3,682.006
Sovereignty type	Independence
Established event1	from Portugal
Established date1	July 5, 1975
Hdi	0.568
Hdi rank	133rd
Hdi year	2011
Hdi category	medium
Currency	Cape Verdean escudo
Currency code	CVE
Time zone	CVT
Utc offset	-1
Time zone dst	not observed
Utc offset dst	-1
Drives on	right
Cctld	.cv
Calling code	+238 }}

Cape Verde (, ), officially the Republic of Cape Verde, is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa. The islands, covering a combined area of slightly over , are of volcanic origin and while three of them (Sal, Boa Vista and Maio) are fairly flat, sandy and dry, the remaining ones are generally rockier and have more vegetation. However, because of the infrequent occurrence of rainfall the overall landscape is not particularly green.

The name of the country stems from the nearby Cap Vert, on the Senegalese coast, which in its turn was originally named "Cabo Verde" when it was sighted by Portuguese explorers in 1444, a few years before the islands were discovered (''verde'' is Portuguese for "green").

The previously uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, and became important in the Atlantic slave trade for their location. The islands' prosperity often attracted privateers and pirates, including Sir Francis Drake, a corsair (privateer) under the authority of the British crown, who twice sacked the (then) capital Ribeira Grande, in the 1580s. The islands were also visited by Charles Darwin's expedition in 1832. The decline in the slave trade in the 19th century resulted in an economic crisis for the islands. With few natural resources, and without strong sustainable investment from the Portuguese, the citizens grew increasingly discontent with the colonial masters, who nevertheless refused to provide the local authorities with more autonomy. This discontent festered and culminated in 1975, when a movement originally led by Amílcar Cabral who was assassinated on 20 January 1973 then passed onto his half-brother Luís Cabral, achieved independence for the archipelago.

The country has an estimated population (most of creole ethnicity) of about 500,000, with its capital city Praia accounting for a quarter of its citizens. Nearly 38% of the population lives in rural areas according to the 2010 Cape Verdean census; about 20% lives below the poverty threshold, and the literacy rate is around 85%. Politically, the country is a very stable democracy, with notable economic growth and improvements of living conditions despite its lack of natural resources, and has garnered international recognition by other countries and international organizations, which often provide development aid. Since 2007, Cape Verde has been classified as a developing nation.

Tough economic times during the last decades of its colonization and the first years of Cape Verde's independence led many to migrate to Europe, the Americas and other African countries. This migration was so significant that the number of Cape Verdeans and their descendants living abroad currently exceeds the population of Cape Verde itself. Historically, the influx of remittances from these immigrant communities to their families has provided a substantial contribution to help strengthen the country's economy. Currently, the Cape Verdean economy is mostly service-oriented with a growing focus on tourism and foreign investment, which benefits from the islands' warm climate throughout the year, diverse landscape, welcoming people and cultural richness, especially in music.

History [link]

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Cape Verde Islands were uninhabited. The islands of the Cape Verde archipelago were discovered by Italian and Portuguese navigators around 1456. According to Portuguese official records the first discoveries were made by Genoese born Antonio de Noli, who was afterwards appointed governor of Cape Verde by Portuguese King Afonso V. Other navigators mentioned as contributing with discoveries in the Cape Verde archipelago are Diogo Gomes, Diogo Dias, Diogo Afonso and the Italian Alvise Cadamosto.

In 1462, Portuguese settlers arrived at Santiago and founded a settlement they called Ribeira Grande (now called Cidade Velha, to avoid being confused with the town of Ribeira Grande on the Santo Antão island). Ribeira Grande was the first permanent European settlement in the tropics.

In the 16th century, the archipelago prospered from the transatlantic slave trade. Pirates occasionally attacked the Portuguese settlements. Sir Francis Drake, a British corsair, sacked Ribeira Grande in 1585. After a French attack in 1712, the town declined in importance relative to nearby Praia, which became the capital in 1770.

With the decline in the slave trade, Cape Verde's early prosperity slowly vanished. However, the islands' position astride mid-Atlantic shipping lanes made Cape Verde an ideal location for re-supplying ships. Because of its excellent harbour, Mindelo (on the island of São Vicente) became an important commercial centre during the 19th century.

In 1951, Portugal changed Cape Verde's status from a colony to an overseas province in an attempt to blunt growing nationalism. In 1956, Amilcar Cabral, and a group of fellow Cape Verdeans and Guineans organised (in Portuguese Guinea) the clandestine African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which demanded improvement in economic, social and political conditions in Cape Verde and Portuguese Guinea and formed the basis of the two nations' independence movement. Moving its headquarters to Conakry, Guinea in 1960, the PAIGC began an armed rebellion against Portugal in 1961. Acts of sabotage eventually grew into a war in Portuguese Guinea that pitted 10,000 Soviet bloc-supported PAIGC soldiers against 35,000 Portuguese and African troops.

By 1972, the PAIGC controlled much of Portuguese Guinea despite the presence of the Portuguese troops, but the organization did not attempt to disrupt Portuguese control in Cape Verde. Portuguese Guinea declared independence in 1973 and was granted de jure independence in 1974. Following the April 1974 revolution in Portugal, the PAIGC became an active political movement in Cape Verde. In December 1974, the PAIGC and Portugal signed an agreement providing for a transitional government composed of Portuguese and Cape Verdeans. On June 30, 1975, Cape Verdeans elected a National Assembly which received the instruments of independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975.

Immediately following the November 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau, relations between Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau became strained. Cape Verde abandoned its hope for unity with Guinea-Bissau and formed the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). Problems have since been resolved and relations between the countries are good. The PAICV and its predecessor established a one-party system and ruled Cape Verde from independence until 1990.

Responding to growing pressure for pluralistic democracy, the PAICV called an emergency congress in February 1990 to discuss proposed constitutional changes to end one-party rule. Opposition groups came together to form the Movement for Democracy (MPD) in Praia in April 1990. Together, they campaigned for the right to contest the presidential election scheduled for December 1990.

The one-party state was abolished September 28, 1990, and the first multi-party elections were held in January 1991. The MPD won a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, and MPD presidential candidate António Mascarenhas Monteiro defeated the PAICV's candidate with 73.5% of the votes. Legislative elections in December 1995 increased the MPD majority in the National Assembly. The party won 50 of the National Assembly's 72 seats.

A February 1996 presidential election returned President Monteiro to office. Legislative elections in January 2001 returned power to the PAICV, with the PAICV holding 40 of the National Assembly seats, MPD 30, and Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD) and Party for Labor and Solidarity (PTS) 1 each. In February 2001, the PAICV-supported presidential candidate Pedro Pires defeated former MPD leader Carlos Veiga by only 13 votes.

Geography[link]

}} The Cape Verde archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately off the coast of West Africa, near Mauritania and Senegal, and is part of the Macaronesia ecoregion. It lies between latitudes 14° and 18°N, and longitudes 22° and 26°W.

The country is a horseshoe-shaped cluster of ten islands (nine inhabited) and eight islets, that constitute an area of 4033 km².

The islands are spatially divided into two groups: The Ilhas de Barlavento (''''): Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista; and The Ilhas de Sotavento (''''): Maio, Santiago, Fogo, Brava. The largest island, both in size and population, is Santiago, which hosts the nation's capital, Praia, the principal agglomeration in the archipelago.

Physical geography[link]

Magnetic anomalies identified in the vicinity of the archipelago indicate that the structures forming the islands date back 125-150 million years: the islands themselves date from 8 million (in the west) to 20 million years (in the east). The oldest exposed rocks occurred on Maio and northern peninsula of Santiago and are 128-131 million year old pillow lavas. The first stage of volcanism in the islands began in the early Miocene, and reached its peak at the end of this period, when the islands reached their maximum sizes. Historical volcanism (within human settlement) has been restricted to the island of Fogo.

The origin of the islands' volcanism has been attributed to a hotspot, associated with bathymetric swell that formed the Cape Verde Rise. The Rise is one of the largest protuberances in the world's oceans, rising 2.2 kilometers in a semi-circular region of 1200 km², associated with a rise of the geoid and elevated surface heat flow.

Due to its physical geography Cape Verde is the eighth most endangered nation due to flooding from global warming.

Climate[link]

Cape Verde's climate is milder than that of the African mainland because the surrounding sea moderates temperatures on the islands. Average daily high temperatures range from in January to in September. Cape Verde is part of the Sahelian arid belt, with nothing like the rainfall levels of nearby West Africa. It does rain irregularly between August and October, with frequent brief-but-heavy downpours. A ''desert'' is usually defined as terrain which receives less than of annual rainfall. Cape Verde's total () is slightly above this criterion, which makes the area climate ''semi-desert''.

The islands, covering a combined area of slightly over , are of volcanic origin and while three of them (Sal, Boa Vista and Maio) are fairly flat, sandy and dry, the remaining ones are generally rockier and have more vegetation. However, because of the infrequent occurrence of rainfall the overall landscape is not particularly green. The archipelago can be divided into four broad ecological zones: arid, semiarid, subhumid and humid, according to altitude and average annual rainfall ranging from 200 mm in the arid areas of the coast to more than 1000 mm in the humid mountain. Mostly rainfall precipitation is due to condensation of the ocean mist.

In some islands, as Santiago, the wetter climate of the interior and the eastern coast contrasts with the dryer one in the south/southwest coast. Praia, located on the southeast coast, is the largest city of the island, and also the largest city and capital of the country.

Because of their proximity to the Sahara, most of the Cape Verde islands are dry, but on islands with high mountains and farther away from the coast, by orography, the humidity is much higher, providing a rainforest habitat, although much affected by the human presence. Northeastern slopes of high mountains often receive a lot of rain while southwest slopes do not. This umbria areas are identified with cool and moisture. Some islands, with steep mountains, are covered with vegetation where the dense ocean moisture condenses and soaks the plants, rocks, soil, logs, moss etc.

Hurricanes that form near the Cape Verde Islands are sometimes referred to as Cape Verde-type hurricanes. These hurricanes can become very intense as they cross warm Atlantic waters.

Biome[link]

Cape Verde's isolation has resulted in the islands having a number of endemic species, particularly bird and reptiles, many of which are endangered by human development. Endemic birds include Alexander's Swift (''Apus alexandri''), Bourne's Heron (''Ardea purpurea bournei''), the Raso Lark (''Alauda razae''), the Cape Verde Warbler (''Acrocephalus brevipennis''), and the Iago Sparrow (''Passer iagoensis''). The islands are also an important breeding area for seabirds including the Cape Verde Shearwater. Reptiles include the Cape Verde Giant Gecko (''Tarentola gigas'').

Human geography[link]

Cape Verde is divided into 22 municipalities (''concelhos'') and subdivided into 32 parishes (''freguesias''), based on the religious parishes that existed during the colonial period:

Demographics[link]

Most of the population is of creole ethnicity, mixed from Sephardic Jewish people, African, and European descent.

A genetic study revealed that the ancestry of the population in Cape Verde is 15.9% African and 84.1% European-Middle Eastern in the male line and more than 90% West African in the female line; counted together the percentage is 57% African and 43% European.

Around 95% of the population is Christian (more than 85 percent of the population is nominally Roman Catholic, though for a minority of the population Catholicism is syncretized with African influences). The largest Protestant denomination is the Church of the Nazarene; other groups include the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Assemblies of God, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, and various other Pentecostal and evangelical groups.) There are a small Muslim community. The number of atheists is estimated at less than 1 percent of the population.

Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese. It is the language of instruction and government. However, the Cape Verdean Creole is used colloquially and is the mother tongue of virtually all Cape Verdeans. Cape Verdean Creole or Kriolu is a dialect continuum of a Portuguese-based creole, which varies from island to island. There is a substantial body of literature in Creole, especially in the Santiago Creole and the São Vicente Creole. Creole has been gaining prestige since the nation's independence from Portugal. However, the differences between the varied forms of the language within the islands have been a major obstacle in the way of standardization of the language. Some people have advocated the development of two standards: a North (Barlavento) standard, centered on the São Vicente Creole, and a South (Sotavento) standard, centered on the Santiago Creole. Manuel Veiga, PhD, a linguist by training, and Minister of Culture of Cape Verde, is the premier proponent of Kriolu's officialization and standardization. The demographic statistics site ESA says Cape Verde has a population of 567,000 in 2010.

Largest cities[link]

Emigration[link]

Today, more Cape Verdeans live abroad than in Cape Verde itself, with significant emigrant Cape Verdean communities in the United States (500,000 Cape Verdeans descent, with a major concentration on the New England coast from Providence, Rhode Island, to New Bedford, Massachusetts). There are also significant Cape Verde populations in Portugal (150,000), Angola (45,000), São Tomé and Príncipe (25,000), Senegal (25,000), the Netherlands (20,000, of which 15,000 are concentrated in Rotterdam), France (25,000), Scandinavia (7,000), Italy (10,000) and Spain (12,500). There is also a Cape Verdean community in Argentina numbering 8,000. A large number of Cape Verdeans and people of Cape Verdean descent that emigrated before 1975 are not included in these statistics, because all the Cape Verdeans had Portuguese passports before 1975.

There are approximately 3,000 Chinese immigrants in Cape Verde, as well as citizens of the African mainland (most of these immigrants hail from West Africa), there are also a significant number of citizens of Europe and South America (Brazil) residing in the country. There are an estimated 20,000 immigrants in Cape Verde of which 14,373 are legal residents.

In the USA, the children and grandchildren of the first immigrant waves became involved in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This led them to make links with other US black groups. Cape-Verdean Americans have also been involved in the US Army for centuries; in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Cape Verdeans moved to places all over the world, from Macau to Haiti to Argentina to northern Europe.

Politics [link]

Cape Verde is a stable representative Parliamentary republic. The constitution —adopted in 1980 and revised in 1992, 1995 and 1999— defines the basic principles of its government. The president is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term. The prime minister is the head of government and proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. The prime minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president. Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for 5-year terms. Three parties now hold seats in the National Assembly—PAICV 40, MPD 30, and Cape Verdean Independent Democratic Union (UCID) 2.

The judicial system consists of a Supreme Court of Justice — whose members are appointed by the president, the National Assembly, and the Board of the Judiciary — and regional courts. Separate courts hear civil, constitutional, and criminal cases. Appeal is to the Supreme Court.

Cape Verde follows a policy of nonalignment and seeks cooperative relations with all friendly states. Angola, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Senegal, Russia and the United States maintain embassies in Praia. Cape Verde is actively interested in foreign affairs, especially in Africa. It has bilateral relations with some Lusophone nations and holds membership in a number of international organisations. It also participates in most international conferences on economic and political issues. Since 2007, Cape Verde has a ''special partnership'' status with the EU, under the Cotonou Agreement, and might apply for special membership.

The military of Cape Verde consists of a coast guard and an army; 0.7% of the country's GDP was spent on the military in 2005.

International recognition [link]

Cape Verde is often praised as an example among African nations, for its stability and developmental growth despite its lack of natural resources. Among others, it has been recognized with the following assessments:

! Index	! Score	Portuguese-speaking African countries>PALOP rank	Community of Portuguese Language Countries>CPLP rank	List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa>African rank	List of sovereign states>World rank	! Year
Human Development Index	0.568					2011
Ibrahim Index of African Governance	75.5					2011
	28 (Free)					2009
	1/1					2011
Press Freedom Index	6,00					2011
Democracy Index	7.92					2011
Corruption Perceptions Index	5.5					2011
Index of Economic Freedom	63.5					2012
	0.4054					2010
	77.2					2010
Networked Readiness Index	3.57					2011

Moreover, on 10 October 2011 Cape Verde became the 119th state which ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Cape Verde becomes the 119th State to Join the Rome Statute System).

Economy [link]

Cape Verde has few natural resources, scant rainfall and limited supplies of fresh water. Only four of the ten main islands (Santiago, Santo Antão, Fogo, and Brava) normally support significant agricultural production, and over 90% of all food consumed in Cape Verde is imported. Mineral resources include salt, pozzolana (a volcanic rock used in cement production), and limestone. Its small number of wineries making Portuguese-style wines have traditionally focused on the domestic market, but have recently met with some international acclaim. A number of wine tours of Cape Verde's various microclimates began to be offered in spring 2010 and can be arranged through the tourism office.

The economy of Cape Verde is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for more than 70% of GDP. Although nearly 38% of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture and fishing contribute only about 9% of GDP. Light manufacturing accounts for most of the remainder. Fish and shellfish are plentiful, and small quantities are exported. Cape Verde has cold storage and freezing facilities and fish processing plants in Mindelo, Praia, and on Sal. Expatriate Cape Verdeans contribute an amount estimated at about 20% of GDP to the domestic economy through remittances.

Since 1991, the government has pursued market-oriented economic policies, including an open welcome to foreign investors and a far-reaching privatization programme. It established as top development priorities the promotion of a market economy and of the private sector; the development of tourism, light manufacturing industries, and fisheries; and the development of transport, communications, and energy facilities. From 1994 to 2000 about $407 million in foreign investments were made or planned, of which 58% were in tourism, 17% in industry, 4% in infrastructure, and 21% in fisheries and services.

In 2011, on 4 islands a windfarm was built, that in total supplies about 25% of the electricity of the country. With this amount it is one of the top countries for renewable energy.

Between 2000 and 2009, real GDP increased on average by over 7 percent a year, well above the average for Sub-Saharan countries and faster than most small island economies in the region. Strong economic performance was bolstered by one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world, as well as by substantial capital inflows that allowed Cape Verde to build up national currency reserves to the current 3.5 months of imports. Unemployment has been falling rapidly, and the country is on track to achieve most of the UN Millenium Development Goals – including halving its 1990 poverty level.

In 2007, Cape Verde joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2008 the country graduated from Least Developed Country (LDC) to Middle Income Country (MIC) status.

Cape Verde has significant cooperation with Portugal at every level of the economy, which has led it to link its currency first to the Portuguese escudo and, in 1999, to the euro. On June 23, 2008 Cape Verde became the 153rd member of the WTO.

Development[link]

The European Commission's total allocation for the period of 2008–2013 foreseen for Cape Verde to address "poverty reduction, in particular in rural and periurban areas where women are heading the households, as well as good governance" amounts to €54.1 million.

Wildlife[link]

Tourism [link]

Cape Verde's strategic location at the crossroads of mid-Atlantic air and sea lanes has been enhanced by significant improvements at Mindelo's harbour (Porto Grande) and at Sal's and Praia's international airports. A new international airport was opened in Boa Vista in December 2007, and on the island of Sao Vicente, the newest international airport (Sao Pedro Airport) in Cape Verde, was opened in late 2009. Ship repair facilities at Mindelo were opened in 1983. The major ports are Mindelo and Praia, but all other islands have smaller port facilities. In addition to the international airport on Sal, airports have been built on all of the inhabited islands. All but the airport on Brava enjoy scheduled air service. The archipelago has of roads, of which are paved, most using cobblestone.

The country's future economic prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, outsourcing labour to neighbouring African countries, and the momentum of the government's development programme.

Tourism has increased in recent years. Large hotels have been built across the country in an effort to boost tourism. In particular, on the islands of Boa Vista (Club Hotel Riu Karamboa (750 rooms)), and Sal (Club Hotel Riu Funana/Garopa (1000 rooms)--the largest hotel in all of West Africa). The Cape Verde islands have a relatively low crime rate and beautiful beaches, as well as having engaging local people. Tourists and leisure seekers from across Europe and the world are coming to the country in larger numbers.

In 2011, about 475,294 tourists visited the archipelago.

Transport[link]

Culture [link]

Cape Verdean social and cultural patterns are similar to those of rural Portugal and Africa. Football (Futebol) games and church activities are typical sources of social interaction and entertainment. The traditional walk around the praça (town square) to meet friends is practiced regularly in Cape Verde towns. In towns with electricity, television is available on two channels (Cape Verdean and Portuguese).

Cape Verde music incorporates Portuguese, Caribbean, African, and Brazilian influences. Cape Verde's quintessential national music is the ''morna'', a melancholy and lyrical song form typically sung in Cape Verdean Creole. The most popular music genre after ''morna'' is the ''coladeira'' followed by ''funaná'' and ''batuque'' music. Amongst the most worldwide known Cape Verdean singers, are the singers Ildo Lobo and Cesaria Evora whose songs became a hallmark of the country and its culture. There are also well known artists born to Cape Verdean parents who excelled themselves in the international music scene. Amongst these artists are jazz pianist Horace Silver, Duke Ellington's saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, Paul Pena, the Tavares brothers and singer Lura.

Dance forms include the soft dance ''morna'', the extreme sensuality of ''coladeira'' including the modernized version called ''passada'' (similar to the zouk from Guadeloupe), the ''Funaná'' (a sensual mixed Portuguese and African dance), and the ''Batuque'' dance.

Cape Verdean literature is one of the richest of Lusophone Africa. Famous poets include Paulino Vieira, Manuel de Novas, Sergio Frusoni, Eugénio Tavares, and B. Léza, and famous authors include Baltasar Lopes da Silva, António Aurélio Gonçalves, Manuel Lopes, Orlanda Amarílis, Henrique Teixeira de Sousa, and Germano Almeida.

Cuisine[link]

The Cape Verde diet is mostly based on fish and staple foods like corn and rice. Vegetables available during most of the year are potatoes, onions, tomatoes, manioc, cabbage, kale, and dried beans. Fruits such as banana and papayas are available year-round, while others like mangos and avocados are seasonal. A popular dish served in Cape Verde is Cachupa, a slow cooked stew of corn (hominy), beans, and fish or meat.

Health[link]

The infant mortality rate in Cape Verde is 21 per 1,000 live births. The AIDS prevalence rate is 0.8%. The mean years of schooling of adults over 25 years is 7. Life expectancy in Cape Verde is 70.5 years for males and 77.7 years for females according to the country's official statistics . Cape Verde's population is among the healthiest in Africa. Since its independence, it has greatly improved its health indicators, and besides having been promoted to the group of "medium development" countries in 2007, leaving the Least Developed Countries category (which is only the second time it has happened to a country), is currently the 10th best ranked country in Africa in terms of Human Development Index.

Education [link]

Primary school education in Cape Verde is mandatory between the ages of 6 and 14 years and free for children ages 6 to 12. In 2008, the net enrollment ratio for primary school was 84%. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children's participation in school. Approximately 85% of the total population over 15 years of age is literate. Textbooks have been made available to 90 percent of school children, and 83 percent of the teachers have attended in-service teacher training. Although most children have access to education, some problems remain. For example, many students and some teachers speak Creole at home and have a poor command of Portuguese (the language of instruction); there is insufficient spending on school materials, lunches, and books; and there is a high repetition rate for certain grades.

Football [link]

Although the Cape Verde national football team represents Cape Verde abroad, many internationally known football players were born in Cape Verde, or were descendants of Cape Verdeans, and play for other nation's teams. Several currently play, or have played, in the Portuguese league or national team, such as Nani, Jorge Andrade, Rolando or Nélson Marcos. Henrik Larsson (whose father is Cape Verdean) played for Sweden, Patrick Vieira (whose mother is Cape Verdean) played for France, while Gelson Fernandes (who was born in Praia) plays for Switzerland.

Windsports [link]

Cape Verde is famous for wavesailing (a type of windsurfing) and kiteboarding. Josh Angulo, a Hawaiian and 2009 PWA Wave World Champion, has done much to promote the archipelago as a windsurfing destination. Cape Verde is now his adopted country.

Mitu Monteiro, a local kitesurfer, was the 2008 Kite Surfing World Champion in the wave discipline. The lives of Mitu and his 2 lifelong friends Titik and Djo and their unique exposure to windsurfing and kitesurfing is chronicled in a short film by Thierry Albert and Marcus Werner Hed called "The Boys from Ponta Preta"

See also[link]

Outline of Cape Verde

Index of Cape Verde-related articles

References [link]

;Notes ;Sources

External links [link]

Official website of the Government of Cape Verde

Official website of the President of Cape Verde

Cape Verde from State.gov

Country Profile from BBC News

Cape Verde entry on ''Encyclopædia Britannica''

Cape Verde from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''

Key Development Forecasts for Cape Verde from International Futures

Category:African countries Category:Archipelagoes of the Atlantic Ocean Category:Countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean Category:Economic Community of West African States Category:Member states of La Francophonie Category:Former Portuguese colonies Category:Island countries Category:Islands of the North Atlantic Ocean Category:Islands of Africa Category:Islands of Macaronesia Category:Liberal democracies Category:Portuguese-speaking countries Category:Republics Category:States and territories established in 1975 Category:Member states of the African Union Category:Member states of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries Category:Member states of the United Nations

af:Kaap Verde als:Kap Verde am:ኬፕ ቨርድ ar:الرأس الأخضر an:Cabo Verde frp:Cap-Vèrd ast:Cabu Verde az:Kabo-Verde bm:Kap Verdi bn:কেপ ভার্দ bjn:Tanjung Verde zh-min-nan:Chheⁿ-kak Kiōng-hô-kok be:Каба-Вердэ be-x-old:Каба-Вэрдэ bcl:Kabo nin Berde bg:Кабо Верде bar:Kap Verde bo:ཁེབ་ཝར་ཌི། bs:Zelenortska Ostrva br:Kab Glas ca:Cap Verd cv:Кабо Верде ceb:Cape Verde cs:Kapverdy co:Capu Verde cy:Cabo Verde da:Kap Verde de:Kap Verde dv:ކޭޕް ވާޑޭ nv:Tónteel Bibąąh Dootłʼizhí et:Roheneemesaared el:Πράσινο Ακρωτήριο es:Cabo Verde eo:Kabo-Verdo ext:Cabu Verdi eu:Cabo Verde ee:Cape Verde fa:کیپ ورد hif:Cape Verde fo:Grønhøvdaoyggjarnar fr:Cap-Vert fy:Kaapverdje ga:Rinn Verde gv:Yn Rheynn Ghlass gag:Kabo Verde gd:Cape Verde gl:Cabo Verde xal:Ноһаномгудин Орн ko:카보베르데 hy:Կանաչ Հրվանդան hi:केप वर्दे hr:Zelenortska Republika io:Kabo Verda ig:Cape Verde ilo:Cape Verde bpy:কেপ ভের্দ id:Tanjung Verde ia:Capo Verde ie:Cap-Vert os:Кабо-Верде zu:IKhepi Vedhi is:Grænhöfðaeyjar it:Capo Verde he:כף ורדה jv:Tanjung Verde pam:Cape Verde ka:კაბო-ვერდე kk:Кабо-Верде kw:Pennrynn Gwyrdh rw:Kapu Veri sw:Cabo Verde kg:Kap Verde ht:Kap Vè ku:Kap Verde mrj:Кабо-Верде la:Promontorium Viride lv:Kaboverde lb:Kap Verde lt:Žaliasis Kyšulys lij:Càpo Verde li:Kaapverdië ln:Cap-Vert lmo:Cap Verd hu:Zöld-foki Köztársaság mk:Зелен ’Рт ml:കേപ്പ് വേർഡ് mt:Kape Verde mi:Kēpa Weriti mr:केप व्हर्दे xmf:კაბო-ვერდე arz:كابو فيردا ms:Tanjung Verde mwl:Cabo Berde my:ကိတ်ဗာဒီနိုင်ငံ nah:Cabo Xoxoctic na:Keip Berde nl:Kaapverdië ne:केप भर्डे ja:カーボベルデ pih:Cape Verde no:Kapp Verde nn:Kapp Verde nrm:Vèrt Cap nov:Kabe Verdi oc:Cap Verd or:କେପ ଭର୍ଡ uz:Keyp Verd pnb:کیپ وردی pap:Kabu Verdi pms:Cap Verd nds:Kap Verde pl:Republika Zielonego Przylądka pt:Cabo Verde crh:Kabo Verde ro:Republica Capului Verde qu:Q'umir Kawu ru:Кабо-Верде sah:Кабо Верде se:Kap Verde sa:केप वर्डी sg:Azûâ tî Kâpo-Vêre sc:Cabu Birde sco:Cape Verde stq:Kap Verde nso:Cape Verde sq:Kepi i Gjelbër scn:Capu Virdi simple:Cape Verde ss:Sihlenge Lesiluhlata sk:Kapverdy sl:Zelenortski otoki so:Kab Ferde ckb:کەیپڤەرد sr:Зеленортска Острва sh:Zelenortska Republika su:Tanjung Verdé fi:Kap Verde sv:Kap Verde tl:Kabo Berde ta:கேப் வேர்ட் te:కేప్ వర్దె tet:Kabuverde th:ประเทศเคปเวิร์ด tg:Ҷазираҳои Димоғаи Сабз tr:Yeşil Burun Adaları tk:Kabo-Werde uk:Кабо-Верде ur:کیپ ورڈی ug:يېشىل تۇمشۇق ئاراللىرى vec:Capo Verde vi:Cabo Verde vo:Kabovärduäns fiu-vro:Cabo Verde war:Cabo Verde wo:Kap Weert ts:Cape Verde yo:Cape Verde zh-yue:維德角 diq:Kap Verde bat-smg:Žalėjė Ėškīšolė Respoblėka zh:佛得角

name	Cesária Évora
background	solo_singer
birth date	August 27, 1941
birth place	Mindelo, Portuguese Cape Verde
death date	December 17, 2011
death place	São Vicente, Cape Verde
genre	MornaColadeira
occupation	Singer
years active	1957–2011
label	}}

Cesária Évora (; 27 August 1941 – 17 December 2011) was a Cape Verdean popular singer. Nicknamed the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes, she was also the "Queen of Morna".

Life and career[link]

''Cise'' (as her friends used to call her) was born on August 27, 1941 in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde. When she was seven years old her father (who was a part-time musician ) died, and at age ten she was placed in an orphanage, as her mother could not raise all six children. At the age of 16, she was persuaded by a friend to sing in a sailors' tavern.

In the 1960s, she started singing on Portuguese cruise ships stopping at Mindelo as well as on the local radio. It was only in 1985 when at the invitation of Cape Verdean singer Bana she went to perform in Portugal. In Lisbon she was discovered by the musician José da Silva and invited to record in Paris.

Évora's international success came only in 1988 with the release of her first album ''La Diva Aux Pieds Nus'' recorded in France. Her 1992 album ''Miss Perfumado'' sold over 300,000 copies worldwide, and included one of her most celebrated songs, "Sodade", composed by Bonga Kuenda (Angola 74).

Her 1995 album ''Cesária'' brought her broader international success and the first Grammy Award nomination. In 1997, she won KORA All African Music Awards in three categories: "Best Artist of West Africa", "Best Album" and "Merit of the Jury". In 2003, her album ''Voz d'Amor'' was awarded a Grammy in the World music category.

In 2010, Évora performed a series of concerts, the last of which was in Lisbon on May 8th. Two days later, after a heart attack, she was operated on at a hospital in Paris. On the morning of May 11, 2010 she was taken off artificial pulmonary ventilation, and on May 16, she was discharged from the intensive care unit and transported to a clinic for further treatment. In late September 2011, Évora's agent announced she was ending her career due to poor health.

On December 17, 2011, aged 70, Évora died in São Vicente, Cape Verde, from respiratory failure and hypertension. A Spanish newspaper reported that 48 hours before her death she was still receiving people -and smoking- in her home in Mindelo, popular for always having its doors open.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

''La Diva Aux Pieds Nus'' (1988)

''Distino di Belita'' (1990)

''Mar Azul'' (1991)

''Miss Perfumado'' (1992)

''Cesária'' (1995)

''Cabo Verde'' (1997)

''Café Atlantico'' (1999)

''São Vicente di Longe'' (2001)

''Voz d'Amor'' (2003)

''Rogamar'' (2006)

''Nha Sentimento'' (2009)

Compilations & live albums[link]

''Sodade - Les Plus Belles Mornas de Cesária'' (Best of compilation, 1994)

''Club Sodade'' (Remix album, 1996)

''Live à l'Olympia'' (Live album, recorded at the Paris Olympia, 1996)

''Colors of the World'' (Allegro Music, 1997)

''Live Lugano July 1997'' (Live album, recorded at Lugano, 1997)

''Best Of''' (Best of compilation, 1998) CAN: Gold

''Anthology'' (Best of compilation, 2002)

''Anthologie - Mornas & Coladeras'' (Double CD edition of ''Anthology'', 2004)

''Live d'Amor'' (Live DVD, recorded in 2004 at Le Grand Rex, Paris, 2004)

''Un Geste Pour Haiti"

Singles[link]

''Nutridinha'' (2001)

References[link]

External links[link]

Life and Work of Cesária Évora, in Portuguese

Blog by the fans of Cesária Évora, the 1st page entirely in portuguese about her, 2008

Official Website

extensive bio by Radio France Internationale

Category:1941 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Cape Verdean singers Category:Deaths from respiratory disease Category:Grammy Award winners Category:People from São Vicente, Cape Verde

an:Cesária Évora ast:Cesária Évora bn:সেজারিয়া এভোরা be:Сезарыя Эвара be-x-old:Сэзарыя Эвара bg:Сезария Евора bs:Cesária Évora br:Cesária Évora ca:Cesária Évora cs:Cesária Évora da:Cesária Évora de:Cesária Évora el:Σεζάρια Έβορα es:Cesária Évora eo:Cesária Évora eu:Cesária Évora fr:Cesária Évora gl:Cesária Évora hy:Սեզարիա Էվորա hr:Cesária Évora it:Cesária Évora he:סזריה אבורה ka:სეზარია ევორა la:Caesaria Évora lb:Cesária Évora lt:Cesária Évora hu:Cesária Évora mk:Цезарија Евора mwl:Cesária Évora nl:Cesária Évora ja:セザリア・エヴォラ no:Cesária Évora oc:Cesária Évora nds:Cesária Évora pl:Cesária Évora pt:Cesária Évora ro:Cesária Évora ru:Эвора, Сезария sr:Сезарија Евора sh:Cesária Évora fi:Cesária Évora sv:Cesária Évora tt:Cesária Évora tr:Cesária Évora uk:Сезарія Евора vi:Cesária Évora wa:Cesária Évora

This article is a list of Famous Cape Verdean people:

Actors[link]

Michael Beach

Don Xavier

Artists [link]

Djon Brito

Manuel Figueira

Tchalê Figueira

Lindsay Grace

Mariana Ramos

Mayra Andrade

Mito Elias https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mito-Elias/216308035071236

Cesaria Evora

Bana

Ildo Lobo

Paulino Vieira

Bius

Bulimundo

Luis Morais

Manuel de Novas

Tubarões

Dudu Araujo

Cordas de Sol

Luis Morais

Gilyto Semedo http://www.gilyto.com

Lura

Princesito

Ferro Gaita

Simentera

Pantera

Tito Paris

Txeka

Gil Semedo

Motivational Speaker [link]

Don Xavier Canada, www.Donxavier.com

Beauty Pageant Winners [link]

Wilza Fortes De Pina, Miss CEDEAO in 2002.

Tania Neves, Miss CEDEAO in 2005

Poets [link]

Aguinaldo Fonseca

Sergio Frusoni, Italian Cape Verdean poet and promoter of the Cape Verdean Creole language.

Gabriel Mariano, poet and an essayist

Ovídio Martins, poet and journalist

Arménio Vieira

Dr. Azágua, poet, educator and Capeverdean Creole Advocate

Politicians [link]

Amílcar Cabral, nationalist politician

António Mascarenhas Monteiro, former President of Cape Verde

José Maria Neves, Prime Minister of Cape Verde

Aristides Pereira, former President of Cape Verde

Pedro Pires, former Prime Minister of Cape Verde; former President of Cape Verde

Carlos Veiga, former Prime Minister of Cape Verde

Honório Barreto (1813–1859) was a governor of the Portuguese Guinea.

Corsino Fortes, ambassador and writer

Carlos Nunes Fernandes Reis, former Minister of Education, Diplomat

Producers [link]

Mike Costa – Mike Costa is a writer/producer/director. He was a writer on the hit television series, Roseanne. He is currently producing a film titled: Proud to be Cape Verdean: A Look at Cape Verdeans in the Golden State.

Claire Andrade-Watkins

Jim Lopes – Jim Lopes is an entertainment attorney and writer/producer and former senior executive at MCA-Universal, CBS/Fox and Reader's Digest. He co-produced the award-winning documentary "Race to Execution" which was broadcast on PBS. He is currently producing a film about the Cape Verdean whaling families of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Tom Lopes, Producer/Director of the much acclaimed 1983 documentary film "Mystery Lady - the Return of the Schooner Ernestina". This saga tells the story of early Cape Verdeans who emigrated from Cape Verde on-board whaling and packet ships, sailing to America seeking a better way life. The film nicely tells the story of Cape Verdean people living on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and provides to this date one of the best accounts of the history of the Cape Verdean-American. Continuously, for over 25 years, Tom Lopes has successfully produced and directed a number of local cable television programs, and in partnership with Google's YouTube and Amazon.com his motion picture company that goes by the name "Coollywood" (''Cool Movies'') has been credited with over 250 short movies and slide show presentations. Today, Tom Lopes is hard at work writing and producing full featured films for world-wide distribution. Coollywood movie channel link: www.Youtube.com/Coollywood

Napoleon X – Napoleon X is producer/director of the documentary film "Black Men Can Fly", the story of George S. Lima (also Cape Verdean) who was a member of the American Army Air Corps' famed Tuskegee Airmen. He is currently producing a documentary entitled "Pioneiros de Cabo Verde". pioneirosdecaboverde.com

Models [link]

Cassandra Miranda

Alzerina Gomes (currently a jewelry designer based in New York City, www.alzerina.com)

Amber Rose

Music – Singers, Musicians, & Composers [link]

Rui Pina ('Rui'), Singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, http://www.kolarecords.com

Maria Alice

Francelina Durão Amerida ('Fantcha')

Leonel Almeida

Rufino Almeida ('Bau'), singer

Manuel Lopes Andrade ('Tcheka')

Mayra Andrade

Adriano Gonçalves ('Bana'), singer and original member of Voz de Cabo Verde

Carlos Alberto Barbosa ('Kaká' Barbosa), composer

Orlando Monteiro Barreto (Orlando 'Pantera')

Maria de Barros, Senegalese-born singer

Gardénia Benrós

Gilyto Semedo Singer, Dancer & Producer http://www.gilyto.com

Gabriela Mendes, Born in Mindelo on the Island of Sao Vicente

Humberto Bettencourt ('Humbertona'), guitarist

Biús ('Biús')

José Carlos Brito ('Voginha')

Amândio Cabral

António Carvalho ('Antoni Denti D' Oro')

José Casimiro

Teofilo Chantre

João Cirilo

Malaquias Costa

Francisco Xavier da Cruz ('B. Leza'), composer of classic ''morna''

Beto Dias, singer and songwriter

Codé di dona, Funaná musician

Abilio Duarte, pre-independence composer of protest ''coladeira''

Bela Duarte

José Duarte ('Djosinha'), singer and original member of Voz de Cabo Verde

Cesária Évora, Paris-based singer and global popularizer of ''morna'' and ''coladeira''

Epifânia Évora ('Tututa')

Gracindo Évora ('Grace' Évora)

Emanuel Fernandes ('Zeca di nha Reinalda'), singer and member of Bulimundo

José Bernardo Fernandes ('Zézé di nha Reinalda'), singer and founder of Finaçon

Ana Firmino

Jacqueline Fortes

Fortinho ('Fortinho')

Francisco Vicente Gomes ('Frank Cavaquim'), composer

Maria Inácia Gomes Correia ('Nácia Gomi')

Arnaldo Gonçalves, pianist and founder of Centaurus

Gregorio Gonçalves, composer

Eddy Fortes ('Eddy Fort Moda Grog'), rapper

Jorge Humberto, guitarist

Emmanuel Lima ('Manu' Lima), singer and composer

Euclides Lima ('Kiki' Lima)

Ildo Lobo, singer with Os Tubarões

Anselmo Lopes ('Séma Lopi')

António Lopes ('Antoninho Travadinha'), violinist

Lisa Nicole Lopes (Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes), member of hip-hop group TLC

Manuel de Jesus Lopes ('Manuel de Novas'), humorous composer and modernizer of ''coladeira''

Suzanna Lubrano, ''zouk'' singer

Mário Lúcio, founder of Simentera

Maria de Lurdes Lura ('Lura')

Carlos Alberto Martins ('Katchàz', 'Katchás', 'Catchàz' or 'Catchass'), guitarist, founder of Bulimundo and revitalizer of the ''funaná'' of Santiagu

Vasco Martins, composer

Gerard Mendes ('Boy Gê' or 'Boy Gé' Mendes), Senegalese-born singer, guitarist and founder of Paris-based Mendes e Mendes and O'asah

Frank Mimita

Mobafuco, a Capeverdean singer who released ''Salve na Criolu''

Jorge Fernandes Monteiro ('Jotamont'), pre-independence composer of ''morna''

Luís Morais

Eddy Moreno

Jorge Neto

Aristides Paris ('Tito Paris')

Celina Pereira

Fernando Quejas, singer and songwriter

Danny Ramalho (Jokachild), hip-hop artist

Daniel Rendall

Albertina Rodrigues ('Titina'), singer

Arlinda Santos

Gil Semedo, singer

Chico Serra ('Chico' Serra)

Adalberto Silva ('Betú'), composer

Daniel Silva ('Dany' Silva)

Marinho Silva

Onésimo Silva

Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva ('Horace Silver'), hard bop jazz pianist of Capeverdean extraction

Armando Zeferino Soares, composer of the famous ''morna'', ''Sodade''

Eugénio Tavares, greatest composer of ''morna''

Fulgêncio Tavares ('Ano Nobo'), composer

Blick Tchutchi ('Blick Tchutchi')

Armãndo Tito, guitarist

Gregório Vaz ('Kodé di Dona' or 'Codé di Dona'), Santiagu-based accordionist, standard-bearer for traditional ''funaná'', and composer of "Fomi 47" about famine

Nancy Vieira, Guiné Bissau-born singer of ''morna'' and ''coladeira''

Paulino Vieira, guitarist and arranger of ''morna''

Sara Tavares, Portuguese-born singer of Capeverdian descent

Marcelo Rosa, (Patalino) Guitarist,Singer,Composer,Producer,Songwriter,Arranger.

Sports [link]

louis nani, Portuguese national team and manchester united soccer player. parents from Cape Verde

Baseball[link]

Wayne Gomes

Davey Lopes

Basketball [link]

nba_"> NBA

Dana Barros, former NBA basketball player with the Boston Celtics

Glen "Big Baby" Davis

Ryan Gomes

Dan "Jewy" Steinberg

Carl "La Rosa Roja" Nemes

Europe [link]

João Gomes

Nelson Delgado, luxemburgish basketball national team players of cape verdean descent

Jairo Delgado, luxemburgish basketball national team players of cape verdean descent

Football [link]

Bijou Davidson

Gerson

Kadú

Pedro Pelé

Tunis

Arlindo Gomes Semedo

José Veiga

Nélson Veiga

Devlin Anes "The Beast"read article for more info

Henrik Larsson, half Cape Verdean

Jerry Adriano Pires

Erikson Teixeira

Patrick Vieira, from the Cape Verdean community in Dakar, Senegal

Nani

Joaquim M. Andrade, "Dr. Azágua", first FIFA Professional Soccer Coach, USSF-A, NSCAA-National.

Manuel Fernandes, portuguese national player of cape verdean descent

Gelson Fernandes, swiss national player of cape verdean descent

Dady, cape verdean national team player

Martial Arts [link]

Fredson Gomes, Tae Kwon Do Olympian

Emanuel Bettencourt

Joaquim M. Andrade Wah Lum Kung Fu, Master

Boxing [link]

Robert Daluz, featherweight boxer

Vinny "the Kid" Debarros, featherweight boxer

Demetrius "The Best" Andrade

"Sucra" Ray Oliveira

Fernando Fernandes, welterweight boxer

Bodyboarding [link]

Jason Mascarenhas, bodyboarder

Robin Cardoza,bodyboarder

Other Sports [link]

Melissa Maria Andrade of Scituate, MA, USA-Champion Team Gymnastics, and two-time finalist at Disney, FL

Cynthia Barboza

Paul Wigertz - Poker player.

Writers [link]

Amílcar Cabral (1921–1973)

Baltasar Lopes da Silva (1907–1989)

Corsino Fortes

Don Xavier

Eugénio Tavares (1867–1930)

Germano Almeida (1945- )

Henrique Teixeira de Sousa

Ivone Ramos: (1926- )

João Cleófas Martins (1901–1970)

Jorge Barbosa

Manuel Lopes (1907–2005)

Manuel de Novas (1938- )

Orlanda Amarilis (1924 – )

PJ Coble (1960- )American of Cape Verdian descent

Yolanda Morazzo (1928- )

Sergio Frusoni (1901–1975)

Viriato de Barros

See also [link]

Cape Verdean diaspora

* Category:Cape Verdeans Category:Cape Verdean musicians Category:Cape Verdean singers Category:People of Cape Verdean descent

ja:カーボベルデ人の一覧