Cape Verde

Describes the history, culture, geography, and popular attractions of the Cape Verde Islands.

Diverse and fascinating, the Cape Verde islands offer idyllic beaches but also the unique culture and traditions of their soulful inhabitants. Bradt's Cape Verde remains the preeminent guide.

The Cape Verde Islands are a destination with a difference, a distinctive blend of European and African cultures whose unique hospitality is encapsulated in the Creole word morabeza. These magical islands are soaring in popularity, with property construction, flights and international arrivals rocketing. British and Irish second-home investors are discovering the potential of these beautiful, burgeoning islands and this fifth edition provides practical details on purchasing property, exploring the spectacular landscape and travelling between islands. From the long stretches of shimmering, sandy beaches of Boavista to the lush green peaks and valleys of Santo Antão, Cape Verde has something for everybody.

The Cape Verde Islands, an Atlantic archipelago off the coast of Senegal, were first settled during the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the fifteenth century. A "Crioula" population quickly evolved from a small group of Portuguese settlers and large numbers of slaves from the West African coast. In this important, integrated new study, Dr. Richard Lobban sketches Cape Verde's complex history over five centuries, from its role in the slave trade through its years under Portuguese colonial administration and its protracted armed struggle on the Guinea coast for national independence, there and in Cape Verde. Lobban offers a rich ethnography of the islands, exploring the diverse heritage of Cape Verdeans who have descended from Africans, Europeans, and Luso-Africans. Looking at economics and politics, Lobban reflects on Cape Verde's efforts to achieve economic growth and development, analyzing the move from colonialism to state socialism, and on to a privatized market economy built around tourism, fishing, small-scale mining, and agricultural production. He then chronicles Cape Verde's peaceful transition from one-party rule to elections and political pluralism. He concludes with an overview of the prospects for this tiny oceanic nation on a pathway to development.

The Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix on Cape Verde review determinants of emigrant deposits (ED). EDs have provided a substantial source of foreign exchange to the Cape Verdean economy, and have been vital in maintaining the fixed exchange rate. Prospects for growth in Cape Verde are improving and immigration legislation abroad is tightening. Both trends argue against further accumulation of ED. Among the developments in favor of ED, of considerable importance is their past stability, the limited convertibility of deposits, the favorable business outlook, and the stable political climate.

The Cape Verde Islands, an Atlantic archipelago off the coast of Senegal, were first settled during the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the fifteenth century. A "Crioula" population quickly evolved from a small group of Portuguese settlers and large numbers of slaves from the West African coast. In this important, integrated new study, Dr. Richard Lobban sketches Cape Verde's complex history over five centuries, from its role in the slave trade through its years under Portuguese colonial administration and its protracted armed struggle on the Guinea coast for national independence, there and in Cape Verde. Lobban offers a rich ethnography of the islands, exploring the diverse heritage of Cape Verdeans who have descended from Africans, Europeans, and Luso-Africans. Looking at economics and politics, Lobban reflects on Cape Verde's efforts to achieve economic growth and development, analyzing the move from colonialism to state socialism, and on to a privatized market economy built around tourism, fishing, small-scale mining, and agricultural production. He then chronicles Cape Verde's peaceful transition from one-party rule to elections and political pluralism. He concludes with an overview of the prospects for this tiny oceanic nation on a pathway to development.