Cape Verdeans in Senegal

There were estimated to be 25,000 Cape Verdeans in Senegal as of 1995.[2]

Cape Verdeans in Senegal
Total population
25,000 (1995)
Regions with significant populations
Dakar
Languages
French[1]
Religion
Roman Catholicism[1]
Related ethnic groups
Cape Verdean diaspora

Migration history

Senegal became popular as a destination for Cape Verdean migrants in the 1920s, as immigration to the United States became more difficult as a result of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and then the Immigration Act of 1924. The United States had previously functioned as an escape route for Cape Verdeans who hoped to avoid coerced migration to other Portuguese colonies such as São Tomé and Príncipe or Angola. Portuguese authorities often refused to issue passports or travel permits for other destinations; however, Senegal's proximity to Cape Verde allowed emigrants to travel there in a clandestine fashion. Women typically pursued domestic work in the homes of French colonists, while the men were employed as artisans. The flow of Cape Verdean emigrants to Dakar continued until the 1950s.[3] When Senegal achieved independence in 1960, some Cape Verdeans followed their French colonist employers to France, augmenting the numbers of Cape Verdeans already found in France in cities such as Paris, Versailles, and Nice. However, many others chose to remain in Senegal.[4]

There are roughly 300 people among the Cape Verdean community in Senegal who have migrated back to the land of their ancestors. Most completed their education in Senegal, but then, unable to find suitable work in the country of their birth, came to Cape Verde for work as teachers or in the health field. However, few Cape Verdean parents in Senegal have followed their children back to Cape Verde.[1]

Notable people

References

Notes
  1. Arena 2002
  2. Cape Verdean Diaspora Population Estimates, Caboverde Informatics Project, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, archived from the original on 2009-08-29, retrieved 2009-08-26
  3. Carling & Batalla 2008, p. 21
  4. Carling & Batalla 2008, p. 23
  5. Gilbert, Andrew (2009-05-26), "Maria De Barros opens a window to Cape Verde", Seattle Times, retrieved 2010-04-19

Sources
  • Carling, Jørgen; Batalha, Luís, "Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora", in Batalha, Luís; Carling, Jørgen (eds.), Transnational Archipelago: Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora, Amsterdam University Press, pp. 13–34, ISBN 978-90-5356-994-8
  • Arena, Joaquim (2002-11-01), "The French-speaking Creoles of Cape Verde", Migrations et diversités au Cap-Vert, en Guinée-Bissau et Sao Tomé et Principe, PANOS Institute West Africa, archived from the original on 2011-05-10, retrieved 2009-08-27
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