Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
The Cape Verdean Connection program provided an opportunity for Festival audiences to experience a culture that blends West African and Portuguese elements in unique and moving ways. It also provided a clear perspective on two important aspects of how culture is understood and made part of public discourse at the end of the 20th century. One is the idea of transnationalism - in a sense, the way that culture and community can be seen to be independent of territorial boundaries. The other is the opening of the Smithsonian and other national institutions to new cultural needs.
Cape Verdean culture is produced on both sides of the Atlantic, in communities in the Cape Verde Islands and in New England, California, the Netherlands, France, Senegal, Argentina, and elsewhere. Transnationalism in Cape Verdean society is determined, to be sure, in part by historical and environmental imperatives of dramatic proportions. But this condition is not unique. There are many other culture-bearing groups whose members find it necessary for survival to export their labor and themselves to another country, building new lives there but also sending support and maintaining ties to their old country through a variety of social and cultural organizations. Related cultures are often understood as offspring of an ancestral culture, their separate development explaining cultural differences.
But cultural relationships between such communities may sometimes be understood more concretely as being based in and built upon institutions. Cape Verdeans maintain ties through Cape Verdean-owned ships and shipping companies; family remittances and other economic exchange, such as banking and investments in the home country; print and electronic media that disseminate news of the communities; political parties, which were active in the anticolonial struggle and continue in post-independence politics; and international musical touring circuits and Cape Verdean-owned recording companies that are firmly grounded in Cape Verdean traditional musical genres. These are among this community's tools for cultural survival in a transcontinental context.
Cape Verdean American committees raised a substantial portion of the funds necessary for the Cape Verdean Connection program. In sponsoring the program, the Cape Verdean Americans are not only "discovering" the Smithsonian - that is, planting a Cape Verdean cultural flag and gaining international attention for their magnificent cultural achievements. They are also using institutional means to establish a unified yet richly diverse culture as the bedrock upon which to build a Cape Verdean identity - one that can help its bearers work together to meet the challenges presented by Cape Verdean history and its environment. The Festival, and the Smithsonian of which it is part, became an open forum for this kind of cultural exploration and discussion – amidst vibrant performances of Cape Verdean music and oral traditions and demonstrations of crafts and occupations, from both side of the Atlantic.
John W. Franklin and Peter Seitel were Curators, with Raymond A. Almeida as Senior Program Advisor & Fundraising Coordinator. In Cape Verde, John C. Wahnon was Coordinator of the Gabinete Smithsonian/Cape Verde, and at the Festival Jacqueline Schraad was Program Coordinator.
The Cape Verdean Connection was made possible with the support of the Government of Cape Verde on the occasion of its 20th anniversary of independence; Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation; Cape Verdean American community fundraising committees in Boston, Brockton, Cape Cod, New Bedford, Wareham, Providence/Pawtucket, Hartford, Norwich, Southern California, and Washington, D.C.; Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; NYNEX; Luso-American Development Foundation; Fleet Charitable Trust; Raytheon Co.; the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts; the Town of Wareham, Massachusetts; Bell Atlantic; and the Cape Verdean-American Import/Export Company.
Researchers:
United States
Ronald Barboza, John Braman, Paul Cyr, Maria Resurreição DaSilva, Jose Dias Evora, Ana Fidalgo, Manuel Da Luz Gonçalves, Ulisses Gonçalves, John "Joli" Gonsalves, Virginia Neves Gonsalves, Susan Hurley-Glowa, Joaquim Livramento, James Lopes, Andanilza F. Miranda, Alberto Torres Pereira, Laura Pires-Hester, Ken Semedo, Romana Ramos Silva, Yvonne Marie Smart
Research Team Leaders, Advisors, and Specialists for Gabinete Smithsonian/Cape Verde
Manuel Antonio Barbosa, Maria Alice Barbosa, Josefina A. Chantre, Maria Miguel Estrela, João Gomes, Humberto Lima, Maria Livromento Lima, Osvaldio Osório, José Aureliano Ramos, Joaquim Silva
Additional Research & Photo Documentation
Ray Almeida, Ron Barboza, Beverly Conley, Diana N'Diaye, Pete Reiniger, Peter Seitel, Gunga Tolentino
Participants:
BATUKU, SÃO DOMINGOS, SANTIAGO
Inácia Maria Gomes ("Nacia Gomi"), -- batuku -- leader, Ribeira Seca, Santiago, Cape Verde
António Vaz Cabral ("António Dente d'Or"), -- batuku -- leader, São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Bernardino Sena Fernandes, 10-string guitar, São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Carlos Hermano C. Ferreira, 10-string guitar, São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Maria dos Reis Afonso, -- tchabeta -- , São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Maria A. dos Santos de Barros, -- tchabeta -- , São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Leandra Pereira Leal, -- tchabeta -- , São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Etelvina Lopes, -- tchabeta -- , São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Florença Vieira, drums, São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Andradinha Cunha Borges ("Dina"), dance, São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Nuesa Araujo, dance, Boston, Massachusetts, Cape Verde
Ana Paulo Monteiro, dance, Providence, Rhode Island, Cape Verde
Vitalina Semedo Tavares, -- tchabeta -- , São Domingos, Santiago, Cape Verde
FEASTS AND ORAL TRADITIONS
Feast of São João, Santo Antão
Luciano Chantre, drums, Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Pedro Lima de Margarida dos Santos, drums, Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Teodoro Marcelino Delgado, drums, Corda, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
João Evangelista Pinheiro da Luz, drums, João Afonso, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Feast of São João, Rhode Island
Cleofas Perry ("Bia"), -- mastro -- , Providence, Rhode Island
Dulce De Andrade ("Dui") -- mastro -- , Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Antonio Moniz Rodrigues ("Totoi"), -- mastro -- , Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Oral Traditions
Teresa Alves ("Nha Tintina"), São Filipe, Fogo, Cape Verde
Tabanka
Josefa Rosa Ferreira, -- tabanka -- leader, Vila de Maio, Maio, Cape Verde
Jorge Tavares, Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
João Tavares, Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Clarence da Graça, Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Epifario Corvalho, Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Juvenal Fonseca, Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Frutuoso Nunes de Pina, Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Dulcelino Nogueira Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Carlos Tavares Silva Moreira ("Pedra"), Varzea, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
COLA
SONG AND DANCE
Lydia Cardoza, -- coladeira -- ( -- cola -- singer), Dorchester, Massachusetts
Armindo Fernandes, -- caixeiro -- (drums), Roxbury, Massachusetts
Simao Gomes, -- canizado -- (mask), Roxbury, Massachusetts
Domingo Pires, -- caixeiro -- (drums), Dorchester, Massachusetts
Alberto Rodrigues ("Quizinho"), violin, -- cola -- drums, Dorchester, Massachusetts
Rosa Teixeira, -- coladeira -- ( -- cola -- singer), Dorchester, Massachusetts
TRAPICHE (SUGAR CANE MILL)
António Manuel da Cruz, barrel maker, Eite de Paúl, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Frederico Jose da Luz, -- cola boi -- (oxen) singer, Janela, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Guilherme Medina, -- cola boi -- (oxen) singer, Lagedos, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
António da Rosa dos Santos Oliveira, -- trapiche -- owner, Campo de Cão, Paúl, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
António Jose dos Santos ("Antoninho"), alembic (still) maker, Campa de Cão, Paúl, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
CRAFTS AND OCCUPATIONS
Manuel Fatima Almeida, basket weaver, Porto Novo, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Orlando J. Ribeiro Barreto, stonecutter, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Maria Lopes de Brito ("Maria Paulo"), basket weaver, Manhanga, Picos, Santiago, Cape Verde
Basilio Lima Diago, toy maker, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
João Baptista Fonseca, instrument maker, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Marcelino B. Fortes, -- kalabedotch -- weaver, Curral das Vacas, Ribeira das Patas, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Miguel João Fortes ("Djei"), basket maker, Ribeira Brava, São Nicolau, Cape Verde
Julio Gomes Lima ("DjuDjui"), street paver, Nova Sintra, Brava, Cape Verde
Adelina Pina Lopes, crochet worker, Nova Sintra, Brava, Cape Verde
Benjamin J. Lopes, longshoreman, Providence, Rhode Island
Antonio Carlos Mosso Monteiro ("Tony"), potter, Rabil, Boa Vista, Cape Verde
João Henrique Monteiro ("Tchukay"), coconut carver, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Raul Monteiro ("Cula"), -- pano -- weaver, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Domingas da Moura, potter, Fonte Lima, Santiago, Cape Verde
Albertina Jesus Pires ("Betino"), Feast of São João boat builder, Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Gabriel Da Rosa, merchant marine, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Laura Russel ("Lola"), cranberry worker, Wareham, Massachusetts
Marcelino Santos, -- pano -- weaver, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Ken Semedo, cranberry worker, West Wareham, Massachusetts
Alcides Rocha Silva, woodcarver, Pero Dias, Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Lourenço da Cruz Soares ("Lela"), boat builder, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Candido Gomes Tavares, basket and hat weaver, Boca Larga, Fondura, Santiago, Cape Verde
José Silva Tavares ("Graçalinho"), potter, Pedra Barra, Santa Catarina, Santiago, Cape Verde
Benjamin de Almeida Teixeira, -- pano -- weaver, Ilheu, Santiago, Cape Verde
Jose Luis M. da Veiga, street paver, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
FOODWAYS
Hilda Brito, Brava cooking, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Constancia Ferreira Gomes Lima ("Tantcha"), Santo Antão sweets and liqueurs, Lomba de Tanque, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Maria Augusta Faria Lima, São Vicente cooking, Rockville, Maryland
Ambrosina Santos, Santo Antão cooking, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Adalberta Celina Teixeira Silva, Santiago cooking, Picas, Santiago, Cape Verde
MUSIC
CAPE VERDEAN-AMERICAN DANCE BAND -- CAPE VERDEAN-AMERICAN DANCE BANDDavid Antunes, bass, South Dartmouth, MassachusettsMike Antunes, saxophone, South Dartmouth, MassachusettsJohn Duarte, violin, New Bedford, MassachusettsJohn Gonsalves ("Joli"), vocals, New Bedford, MassachusettsFeliciano Vierra Tavares ("Flash"), guitar, Hyannis, MassachusettsVictoria Vieira ("Vickie"), vocals, Providence, Rhode Island
MUSIC FROM BRAVA AND THE UNITED STATES
Protazio Brito ("Tazinho"), guitar, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Alcides da Graça, -- cavaquinho -- (ukulele), New Bedford, Massachusetts
Laurindo da Graça, guitar, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Ivo Pires, violin, Brockton, Massachusetts
URBAN COLADEIRA AND FUNANA
Emanuel Dias Fernandes ("Zeca de Nha Reinalda"), vocals, Assomada, Santiago, Cape Verde
George Jobe, bass, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Ildo Lobo, vocals, Espargos, Sal, Cape Verde
João Mendes, vocals, Brockton, Massachusetts
Ramiro Mendes, guitar, vocals, Brockton, Massachusetts
Manuel Miranda ("Ne Miranda"), keyboards, Brockton, Massachusetts
Carlos Monteiro, drums, Providence, Rhode Island
MUSIC FROM BOA VISTA
Joaquim Alves ("Quim") guitar, -- cavaquinho -- (ukulele), Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Jose Carlos Silva Brito ("Vozinha"), guitar, Sal Rei, Sal, Cape Verde
Antonio Roque Evangelista Evora ("Taninho"), guitar, Espargos, Sal, Cape Verde
Noel Silva Fortes, violin, Sal Rei, Boa Vista, Cape Verde
Celina Pereira, vocals, Boa Vista, Cape Verde (residing in Portugal)
MUSIC FROM SÃO VICENTE
Malaquias António Costa ("Malaca"), violin, Fonte de Ines, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Adriano Gonçalves ("Bana"), vocals, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde (residing in Portugal)
Manuel Nacimento Gonçalves ("Natal"), -- cavaquinho -- (ukulele), guitar, Monte Sossego, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Manuel de Jesus Lopes ("Manuel d'Novos") guitar, Chã Cemitério, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Luis Morais, saxophone, clarinet, flute, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Titina Rodriguez, vocals, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde (residing in Portugal)
Teresa Lopes Silva, vocals, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Luisa Teresa da Graça Vaz, vocals, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
MUSIC FROM FOGO
Augusto de Pina ("Augusto Cego"), violin, São Filipe, Fogo, Cape Verde
Teodolindo Sedo Pontes ("Mino de Mama"), Gaita (accordion), São Filipe, Fogo, Cape Verde
Américo Rodrigues ("Denda"), -- cavaquinho -- (ukulele), Cova Figueira, Fogo, Cape Verde
Casimiro Santos da Rosa ("Nho Casimiro"), 10-string guitar, São Filipe, Fogo, Cape Verde
Antero Simas, guitar, Pretoria, Sal, Cape Verde
FUNANA
Teresa Gonçalveys Fortado ("Kinta Bela"), dance, Pedra Badejo, Santiago, Cape Verde
Simão Lopes ("Serna Lopi"), -- gaita -- (accordion), Ribeira Seca, Santiago, Cape Verde
Simão Ramos ("Mimosa"), -- ferrinho -- (iron bar), Pedra Badejo, Santiago, Cape Verde
Collection Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1995 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
