Cape Verdean identity developed within a Creole society shaped by encounters, colonial violence and cultural transformation. Portuguese is the official language; the varieties of Cape Verdean Creole, or Kriolu, are central to everyday life, artistic creation and transmission.
The memory of slavery, colonial rule, famine, migration and political struggles runs through family narratives, literature and heritage practices. Cidade Velha is one of the main places where this history is preserved and shared.
Music powerfully expresses this experience. Morna combines music, poetry and dance, carrying themes of departure, separation, return and attachment to home. In 2019, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Sources and references
- Patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’UNESCOLa morna, pratique musicale du Cabo Verde
- Centre du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCOCidade Velha, centre historique de Ribeira Grande
- Centre du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCODéclaration de valeur universelle exceptionnelle de Cidade Velha
Editorial review: 17 September 2026