Fund-raising event for Luisa – a girl who requires visual corrective treatment in order to learn to read & write.
All donations welcome.
When: Saturday 9th May
Where: Palha Verde
13.00 Welcome cocktails
13.30 Live music from “special” guests
14.00 BBQ
16.00 Auction of Art
17.00 DJ
19.00 Event finishes
For more information & to buy tickets contact Shop 32 (in front of the Santa Maria square & Cultural Cafe) on +238 2422160
or La Paloma in Espargos
The bus is full of Cape Verdians, crates of eggs, boxes of fanta laranja, the stereo is playing loud music, and I am at the back squeezed between two young men who are doing their best to give me space, while every time we go over a bump I bang my tall bleached head on the ceiling of the van, and every time we go around a corner I lean just a little bit too close to the boy on my right, causing him to take furtive looks at me in the darkness and wonder what this white woman is doing on the 100 escudo bus from the local village where there are no tourists. 
I had a business meeting at the airport, and feeling confident of the ways of the town, thought I would save myself 9 euros each way by taking the bus. Fine, on the way, in broad daylight, and knowing where the bus runs from. When I came out of the airport, it was dusk, and chilly, and I was just wearing a thin summer frock and sunglasses. Still, not prepared to give in and go the tourist way, and get a cab, I confidently started walking towards Espargos, thinking that I would hail the town bus, or ‘aluguer’, as it passed me by. What I didn’t bargain for, was that Espargos was in actuality quite a bit further than the 300 yards it looked, and that there was no path, and every time a lorry passed it would cover me in hot dust and almost blow me off the road.
Still, I persevered and was shortly joined by a female dog who crossed the highway to join me (this is the only tarmac road on the island), most keenly, almost getting run down, and then leapt up at me gleefully. Not being a dog person, I was unsure how to react, so asked it politely to get down please, which it eventually did, and then followed me, at a respectable distance behind. By now, it was actually dark, spooky, the town was but a distant glimmer, and two aluguers had passed me by, before I had time to realise and hail them down. I started talking to myself, loudly, and panicking slightly, after all we were only about 1 mile from where the only major crime on the island had ever been commited, 2 weeks ago, a ‘crime of passion’…
The road had suddenly become a normal carriageway, not a dual carriageway, which seemed to excite my dog friend, so now I was shouting ‘get out of the road please, bitch’, to the dog, as well as being frightened, and wondering why I hadn’t just got a cab, for the sake of 9 euros, and it was a business meeting after all…. My sense of adventure had got the best of me.
Finally, in the distance, I spotted a garage, and decided a cigarette would be in order, if not vital …. In the queue I spotted a friendly face, one of the cab drivers from Santa Maria, and tried to ask in my most casual voice, which came out as a hysterical whimper – ‘ hi, are you going into Santa Maria?’ He wasn’t , but obviously sensed my distress and offered to take me to the ‘bus stop’, hence my position in the back of the bus between the boys and eggs, music and fanta…
Another exciting adventure in the life of…
May 2007
I left the house at 9.30am, the normal time to set off for work, unless I have an early appointment. I took 2 bags to the bins, there are communal bins around the town, you have to take your rubbish and then it is collected daily by the bin lorry.
On the way, a tiny Cape Verdian girl waved and shouted ‘ola’ from the top of an unfinished apartment block, where her mother was hanging out the daily wash.
I continued into ‘town’, past the Correio, where I poked my head around the door to ask for any post, I received a shake of the head from the post lady, nothing today, she seems to know the names of all the estrangeiros without you having to tell her. Coming out of the post office was one of the girls from the local shop, we had a brief chat, in a mixture of English, Portuguese and Criole, before she went into work and I carried on the walk to my tiny beach office. As I rounded the corner to walk past the primary school, a young Cape Verdian boy, probably about six, was happily chasing round with a tyre, wearing only a T-shirt, nothing else at all. He was smiling happily to himself with his game, and gave me a wonderful grin. A few minutes later, one of the Senegalese, who I don’t think I have spoken to before called out to me.‘I want to see a photograph of you 20 years ago, you are so beautiful now…!’ This cheers me immensely, even though I am not in need of cheering.
Just as I approach my office, one of the fisherman passes with his wheelbarrow of the morning catch. He is always wearing the tiniest pants (nothing else) and carrying a huge sharp knife. He shouts out, ‘good morning baby face, you are beautiful today..’ In the UK he would have been arrested, either for indecent pants, or carrying a large dangerous weapon. Here it is just every day life.
This is life in Cape Verde, this is the commute to work. I unlock the office door and walk in, to the scent of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked Foccacia from the Italian beach café next door. Now to start the day…..
About the Author: In January 2007 Bev Chadwick swapped gigging in the UK for a lucrative career in real estate in Cape Verde. Despite her hectic schedule, she still manages to perform two or three times a week in Santa Maria and is considered somewhat of a local celebrity, particularly with the South American contingent, who arrive in their dozens for every show.
After months of being pestered, she finally agreed to write a regular column for the AboutSal site to share with us her experiences.
BBQ Includes:
Fish, chicken, pork kebabs along with fechoada & salad
1,000 CV Escudos per person.
Between 13.00 – 17.00
To make a reservation or for more information contact Carlos on 9953690
Most visitors to Catholic Cape Verde would be surprised to find Jewish cemeteries here, as well as encountering names such as Cohen, Levy, Benoliel, Benros and Wahnon.
The lands of the Ottoman Empire and Morocco are well-known as havens to Sephardim who fled the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions. However, few people are aware of the Sephardic Diaspora in Catholic Cape Verde. In the 19th century, Sephardim from Morocco and Gibraltar immigrated to the Cape Verde Islands, then a Portuguese colony, seeking economic opportunity. While they assimilated with the larger Catholic population over time, this small but significant Sephardic community left an important cultural, economic and political legacy in Cape Verde that has yet to be properly recognized and documented.
President of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project (CVJHP), Carol Castiel, who has been actively researching and raising awareness of Jewish history in the Cape Verde islands since the 1990s, unveiled the project at the official residence of Aziz Mekouar, last Wednesday.
The chief aims of the project are to restore and preserve several Jewish cemeteries in Cape Verde in a bad state of repair, along with raising awareness and educating current and future generations of their Cape Verdean ancestry.
Several descendants of Cape Verdean Jewish families were present including US Air Force veteran, John Wahnon, as well as US envoys from Cape Verde and Portugal. Also in attendance was Daniel Mariaschin, Executive Vice President, B’nai B’rith International.
Jose Maria Neves, Prime Minister of Cape Verde, previously said, “The Government of Cape Verde endorses the objectives and goals of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project… we feel that the work of the Project can have a significant cultural and economic impact for the Republic of Cape Verde.”
Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project website
Images
Top right: CVJHP President, Carol Castiel
Left: John Wahnon with Ambassador of Morocco to the U.S, Aziz Mekouar, standing above
Images Courtesy of Aly Z. Ramji
From all the countries I have lived, Cape Verde most closely fits the saying “paradise where you can forget all your troubles”. Although geographically located close to Europe and main land Africa and Brazil, its location in the middle of a vast ocean, its climate, and its people, seduces you to forget all that is beyond the boundaries of the island.
Rarely is there a day where you wake up without the company of the sun and a breeze that makes the heat more comfortable than intolerable. You are never more than 10-15 minutes from the ocean. This constant presence of the ocean and all the sounds that accompany it, allows you to feel in touch with nature and ease the stresses often associated with “life”. Although everywhere you turn there is construction and the influx of new investment, the glorious beaches, the ocean, and the occasional sight of whales, dolphins, and turtles, allows you to quickly forget the mortar.
Complimenting this scenic environment are the people. Cape Verdeans, although lackadaisical to a certain extent, show a love for life that is contagious. There is laughter to be 
heard and an ease that gives off a sense that they have morphed with their island and are at ease with the life that comes with living on an island. They are a talented population excelling in languages, water sports, fishing and partying. The music of Cabo Verde, seeps into your soul and fills you with this tremendous excitement for life, the island, and all that it offers your senses. It is difficult to put words to the feeling I get every time I hear their music, watch the locals and tourists flirt with the beach, toy with the water, play volleyball on the beach or kite/wind surf across the ocean.
I cannot help but smile at the ease in which Cape Verdeans move through life, amidst the obstacles that confront them. Although each island is different, each offering something different, there is this common spirit that connects them to each other and to their country. “No Stress” is a way of life.
The shimmering reflections of the ocean are enticing to all those who love to play in the water. Whether it is wind surfing, kiting surfing, or surfing, the island of Sal has something to offer every surfer off every level. It is heaven on water.
Nowhere in the world are there such a variety of locations at which to surf, kite surf and wind surf, all within 10-30min range. Each spot has a unique quality, allowing for a spectrum of sensations for the most beginner to the most advanced of all surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers. Contrary to popular belief, Sal is not only for the advanced. The Bay of Santa Maria and the Surf School at the Riu hotel on the west coast, offers perfect conditions for those just entering the surfing (wind, kite and surf) world as well as for those more at the intermediate and advanced level.
The months of June to October, are for those wanting to learn to windsurf. The water in the main bay of Santa Maria and often in front of the Riu hotel is flat, warm, and wind ranges between 9 and 15 knots. For new and intermediate surfers, the area beside the main pier in Santa Maria is perfect, when that south swell arrives.
From November to May, the trade winds shift and it start to blow across the island, great for learning to kite surf as well as for seasoned wind surfers and kite surfers.
The only down side of these months is the water gets a little cooler and you have to wear a wetsuit (shortie or long depending on your preference). More specifically, for those wanting the sensation of wave riding, January and February, normally deliver some gob smacking waves at Punta Preta that even the most experienced of surfers, feel a little tremble.
If anyone were to ask me, “What is 1 good reason to come to Cabo Verde?” I would have to say the water sports. But I admit I am biased. We have 2 windsurf, kite surf, and surf schools on the island. However, we have them, because we love all 3 surf sports, and could not think of a better place in the world to merge work and pleasure, 365 days a year.
Trust me, try out the island, you will not be disappointed!
Sheena
Surf Zone Cabo Verde
surfcaboverde.com
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.
So we thought we would join in, but on Saturday 
, so we are offering every woman coming to Blu bar on Saturday 7th March between 22:00 and 24:00 a free drink
Blu Bar
Residence Soleil (behind Barracuda Restaurant)
Santa Maria, Sal
Live Music Every Thursday 21:30 – 22:30
Happy Hour
Mon – Sat 18: – 20:30
Sun 16:30 – 21: 30
Potentially essential information if you are on the $1 million question of “Who wants to be a millionaire”
- Sal is the oldest island in the Cape Verde archipelago, formed 50 millions years ago during the eruption of the now inactive volcano
- Sal airports’s main runway is 3,272m (10,734 ft) long & is a designated emergency landing strip for a US space shuttle
- Sal’s airport was built by Mussolini’s Italian government in 1939
- Sal was originally called LLana (flat) until salt deposits were found
- More Cape Verdeans live outside the country than in it
Got a fact that most people probably don’t know?!
Add it below!
LIVE Rasta Bands, LIVE Traditional Cape Verdean Music, Beach BBQ’s, Open Air Beach Discos, Beach Soccer & Volleyball Tournaments, Sunset Happy Hour, and a whole lot more will be on the agenda at Grijinha Beach Bar this summer.
Watch this space for event dates and details on our SUMMER SEASON LAUNCH PARTY!
For now, Grijinha Beach Bar is open daily (except Mondays) from 10am-6pm. Just follow the surfboard signs on the east coast of the island and enjoy an ice cold drink from the bar to the back drop of some of the most spectacular views on the island.
Grijinha Beach Bar serves freshly made sandwiches daily, but if a freshly cooked BBQ lunch is more to your liking just ask the one of our bar staff and it can be arranged. No Stress!
About Grijinha
Literally meaning small church, Grijinha Beach (pronounced GRI-JIN-YA, and outside, open-air bar is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. The location is unbeatable and one of the few places where you can enjoy the fresh, clean breeze. The natural lagoon, protected from crashing waves, is an ideal place for children and adults alike to relax in the water and cool off.
Designed to blend into the natural environment, Grijinha Beach Bar, and nearly all other structures (apart from the newly constructed toilets) are made from recycled materials. The tables from giant electrical cable spools, the roof from native palm fronds, even the pathway leading to the bar was once the walls of the Josh Angulo surf centre.
For more details please contact Stenio on 00238 9965212.
Cape Verde’s “barefoot diva” receives France’s highest civilian honour.
Cesária was presented the award by the French Minister of Culture Christine Albanel during a ceremony inside the Ministry of Culture in Paris, France.
Cesária Évora lost her father at the age of seven. After his death, Cesária’s mother struggled to support her on meager earnings as a cook, eventually entrusting Cesária to the care of an orphanage. It was in the orphanage choir that Cesária first learned to sing.
At 16, Cesária met a Cape Verdean sailor named Eduardo who taught her the traditional Cape Verdean styles of music of coladeiras and mornas. The mornas are songs of sadness, sorrow and yearning. She began singing in local bars and hotels. With the help of local musicians, she would hone her skills and would later be proclaimed “Queen of Mornas” by her fans. She became famous in Cape Verde, but remained relatively unknown internationally.
Cesária had an uncle who was a well-known musician and songwriter who used the name B. Leza (a pun on beleza, Portuguese for “beauty”). Many of Cesária’s loveliest songs on the first several albums are his.
Évora remained popular at the time but her fame did not lead to financial success. Frustrated by personal and financial problems, compounded by the very difficult economic and political situation in Cape Verde, Évora gave up singing to support her family. She didn’t perform for 10 years, which she describes as her “dark years”. During this time she struggled with alcoholism.
Cesária resumed performing after being encouraged by a Cape Verdean exile, leading musician and patron of the arts, Bana, who lived in Portugal. He secured invitations to Portugal where she performed a series of concerts sponsored by a local women’s organization.
A Frenchman of Cape Verdean descent named José Da Silva persuaded her to go to Paris where she recorded a new album, La Diva Aux Pieds Nus (The Barefoot Diva) in 1988. The song “Sodade” was her first international hit, the first hit for a non-French song in France, and marked the beginning of worldwide fame for Cesária Évora. The Portuguese term saudade is complex and infamously difficult to translate, related to homesickness, nostalgia, longing, sadness, and regret. The expression of “sodade” is integral to Cape Verdean music. This album won critical acclaim and began for her a dramatic comeback that accelerated with her 1992 album, Miss Perfumado. She became an international star at the age of 47.
The “Legion of Honour” was introduced by Napolean Bonaparte in 1802 as way of acknowledging achievement and merit to the French nation.
Discography
* 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)
http://www.cesaria-evora.com/
Cesaria Evora
