The islands of Cape Verde lie approximately 645km off the coast of Senegal it is one of the smallest and poorest African nations.In 1492 the Portuguese colonised the islands, the population was made up mainly of slaves and a strong racial mixture was developed.
The language, Cape Verde Creole, is a result of the intermingling of Portuguese and various West African languages brought by the slaves.
There is evidence to suggest that the islands were covered in rich vegetation, but now the land is barren because of the Sahel drought throughout the seventies and eighties.
The islands were the centre of the slave trade between West Africa and Spain.
After World War 2 there was a formation of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) they began to pressure the colonial authorities to grant independence.
The authorities reacted with violence and repression forcing PAIGC to adopt guerrilla tactics, from 1961 onwards.
Although successful on the mainland in 1973, the barren nature of the islands did not favour guerilla warfare and independence only came after the fascist dictate in Portugal, Salazar, was deposed in 1975.
The PAIGC wanted union between Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde and up to 1980, efforts were made to create the union but after a coup in Guinea Bissau the plan was abandoned and the islands have remained independent.
The welfare of the islanders has improved in recent times with major advances in education, health care and provision of food.
