Fiction — The Book Roads

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.

Cabo Verde 1947