Cape Verdean in Italy

Introduction / History

Cape Verde is a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean approximately 250 miles off the coast of northwest Africa, directly west of Senegal and Mauritania. These active volcanic islands sit in a strategic location near major north-south sea routes and serve as important communications stations as well as sea and air refueling sites.

This group of then-uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese starting in 1456. Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The islands were inhabited by the Portuguese and West Africans brought there to work on plantations. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese ancestry. They developed a hybrid language, Kabuverdianu, based on Portuguese and West African languages.

Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration to countries like Italy. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.

Cape Verdeans began to come to Italy in the early 1970s. Most were women who worked as domestic servants.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Cape Verdean women are still working in Italy, but they live away from their employers. They have trouble rising above this position because of a lack of education. Some send their children to a Portuguese school in Rome, while others send their children back to Cape Verde for an education.

They are fairly well integrated and accepted in Italy. About half of the Cape Verdeans are married to Italians.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Largely because of the Portuguese influence, most Cape Verdeans are Roman Catholic, although there are evangelicals among them in Italy.

What Are Their Needs?

Attending church services often gives way to allowing the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit to control our mindset. Like the rest of humanity, Cape Verdeans need to allow themselves to look to Jesus Christ and the word of God for life’s direction. This wi

Prayer Points

Pray for God to call Cape Verdeans to himself, and to continue the process of calling others to Christ.
Pray for God to invigorate His people among Cape Verdeans to accomplish his work among the lost in Italy.
Pray for the Lord to help Cape Verdeans to adjust and thrive in Italy.

Text Source:   Joshua Project