Cape Verdean Independence Day Festival kicks off in Providence

To hear the radio story, click here. This story was reported and produced by Molly Hawes. On July 5th, one day after people had huddled together to see the waterfront fireworks display, the crowds were back at India Point Park in Providence — but this time, a different nation’s flag was flying. Sunday was the Cape Verdean Independence Day Festival, the largest festival of its kind in New England. Thousands of people turned out to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Cape Verde’s freedom from Portugal. Masses of people crowded around the main stage, singing along to songs performed by Cape Verdean artists such as Ritinha Lobo and Jorge Sena. Musicians played traditional drums from the northern island. Many people wore Cape Verdean flags as capes or dresses while waving American flags in their hands. Romana Ramos, a 60-year-old woman who was born and raised in Cape Verde, was one of the original founders of the festival. “I came to United States in 1975, twenty days after the independence of Cape Verde. When they came to the United States, people didn’t really didn’t know much about independence of Cape Verde.Then I felt it a necessity to get a group together, starting talking about the struggle that Cape Verde went through — and honor Amilcar Cabral,” Ramos said. The first festival was held in East Providence, and only sixty people came. At that time, there were no Cape Verdean radio programs, television shows, or newspapers in the area, Ramos said. She thinks that the festival’s increase in popularity has to do, in part, with her decision to move its location to India Point Park. “And one day I was here in the India Point Park —the security man who was of Cape Verdean descent, I was talking with him — I looked around. The ocean and the coast remind me of my island. I start crying; I say it would be so nice if someday if we could celebrate the independence of Cape Verde right here in the park. And he said, ‘Maybe it’s possible.’ And we start working, and it’s been since,” Ramos said. “Now, today people have the freedom to perform, to sing, to do anything you want that express your culture.” Central Falls Mayor James Diossa and Senator Jack Reed both spoke at the event, acknowledging the prominence of the Rhode Island Cape Verdean community. “We have the second-largest population of Capo Verdean in the United States. Give it up! Ninety thousand hard-working people of Capo Verdean extraction,” Reed said. “So, let us go forward together to build a stronger America, a stronger Capo Verde, a stronger world.” Sunday’s celebration was held in honor of the late Norberto Tavares, a Cape Verdean musician known for writing lyrics that inspired social and political change. Organizer Khrystyne Bento emphasized the importance of this kind of cultural expression and its ability to bring people together. “Well, my favorite thing is watching everyone reunite with family, you know. It’s not just about the music and the food and the culture, but it’s watching people who haven’t seen each other for years reunite on these grounds, which is very special to me,” Bento said. “I know that people come from California, Florida, Maine, everywhere, come here to reunite to see their family. And we have family groups kind of set up under the trees over there. So that’s the beauty of today.”