Cabo Verde — The Book Roads

Books from Cabo Verde

The Last Will & Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo

Germano Almeida

Set on the Cape Verdean island of São Vicente, this witty and insightful novel begins with the death of Senhor Napumoceno da Silva Araújo, a respected businessman whose carefully constructed public image is about to unravel. Born into poverty, Napumoceno has built a successful import-export company and become a prominent figure in the community. To outsiders, he appears disciplined, respectable, and almost obsessively proper. However, when his lengthy last will and testament is read aloud, it reveals a very different man. Through a combination of memoir, confession, and unexpected revelations, Napumoceno exposes secret relationships, questionable business dealings, and the existence of a daughter nobody knew about. His revelations also disrupt the inheritance plans of his nephew, who assumes he is the rightful heir. With humour and gentle irony, Germano Almeida explores the gap between public reputation and private reality. The novel also examines social ambition, hypocrisy, family, and the legacies of colonial society in Cape Verde. Beneath its comic surface lies a thoughtful portrait of a man struggling to reconcile the person he wanted to be with the life he actually lived.

2004

Chiquinho

Baltasar Lopes da Silva

Set in Cape Verde during the first half of the twentieth century, Chiquinho follows a young boy growing up on the island of São Nicolau. Divided into three parts, the novel traces his journey from childhood in a close-knit rural community to adolescence and, eventually, adulthood. As Chiquinho learns to read and discovers literature, he begins to imagine possibilities beyond his island. His education takes him to São Vicente, where he encounters new ideas, forms friendships, experiences his first love, and becomes increasingly aware of the social and economic difficulties facing his homeland. When he returns to São Nicolau as a teacher, devastating drought and famine strike the islands, bringing suffering to his community and threatening his hopes for the future. Faced with limited opportunities, Chiquinho ultimately considers emigration to the United States as a path towards survival and a better life. Blending personal growth with a portrait of Cape Verdean society, the novel explores belonging, education, hardship, and the painful choice between leaving home and remaining connected to one’s roots. It is widely regarded as a foundational work of modern Cape Verdean literature.

1947

Famous authors from Cabo Verde

Baltasar Lopes da Silva

1 book

Germano Almeida

1 book

About Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa, made up of ten volcanic islands. Its landscapes range from rugged mountains and dry valleys to sandy beaches and dramatic coastal cliffs. Portuguese and African influences have shaped a distinctive culture expressed through music, dance, food, language, and maritime traditions.

Region: Africa

Literary Context

Cabo Verdean literature is closely connected to island identity, migration, drought, poverty, colonialism, and longing for home. Portuguese is the main literary language, while Kriolu plays an important role in everyday cultural expression and oral traditions. The country’s literature developed strongly during the 20th century, particularly through the influential literary journal Claridade, whose writers sought to create a distinctly Cape Verdean cultural identity. Important figures include Jorge Barbosa, Baltasar Lopes, and Manuel Lopes. A recurring theme is saudade—a deep sense of longing and separation—reflecting the historic movement of Cape Verdeans across the world. Contemporary writing continues to explore diaspora, memory, belonging, and the complex relationship between the islands and the wider world.