Cape Verde

The Portuguese Arrive

During the initial phase of colonization, there existed two racial groups in Cape Verde: broncos (Whites) and prětos (Blacks), along with some evidence that people of Moorish descent were sometimes classified as moreno (dark skinned). The broncos consisted of crown officials, including military governors known as capitdos; noblemen; merchants; and other European settlers (e.g., degredados and langados). In many respects, broncos served as a homogeneous term that overlooked the Moorish, Jewish, and Mediterranean diversity, which is deeply embedded in Portugal's racial inheritance. Prětos, on the other hand, were those of African origin, such as Susu, Papeis, Balantas, Bijagos, Jalofas, Felupes, Fulas, Mandingos, and Manjacos. Prětos were almost all slaves, with the exception of those who served in the local militia (grumete) or as coastal translators for slave traders (tangomdos).

During the early days of Portuguese colonization, prětos made up the overwhelming majority. However, as was the case in Brazil, race mixing between Europeans and enslaved Africans was common, especially given that the Portuguese did not place strict measures on social separation as the French and British did. To this end, a large Crioulo population was established. By 1550, the racial composition of the islands was nearly 70% mestigo, while Whites constituted only 2% of the population. In 1950, again, nearly 70% of the islands' population was considered mestigo. Today, the official racial composition of the country is unknown, for the race category was dropped from the census following independence in 1975.

Defining Race and Ethnicity

Ethnic identity was often preserved in slave shipping registers. For example, one finds observations about ethnic origins and various features deemed of great significance. Although color was most often reported simply as prěto(a), there were many slaves who were recognized as prěto fula, or simply fiila. This distinction is with reference to the somewhat lighter complexion of the interior Fula people, who had figured among the pre-19th-century slaves.

[Page 236]As in Brazilian racial taxonomy, skin colors in Cape Verdean racial taxonomy could also take the reference mulato(a) or mulato(a) claro(a) (light tan); mulato(a) securo(a) (dark tan); or pardo(a), or brown. If this was not sufficient, the complex system of racial taxonomy could then turn to other phenotypic markers like hair and nose type. For instance, hair types included the cabeca seca (dry or wiry headed), the cabo crespo (frizzy hair), and cabo encrespado (curly hair), while types of noses included chato (flat) or muito chato (very flat).

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