There is this very strange mix of African and European remnants in Cape Verde. The culture is African and much of the architecture is left from the many western nations that have occupied the island and it’s people. But even saying it’s people is a misnomer. Africans were brought here and the stories vary as to if there were indigenous folks here on the 10 islands or not. This creates a very complicated identity crisis (as I see it) for the people. Especially because they are also not attached physically to the continent but are indeed Africa. It all depends on the Cape Verdian you ask if they consider themselves African and even more varied if you ask if they consider themselves Black people. Colorism is deeply rooted in this culture and so is class. I often find myself struggling to figure out how they place me but I think most nations just accept that I am a different kind of human…neither of them or outside of them. I am grateful people all over the world give me space to be a part of them, from Bali to Ghana, they make room for me, the nationless Black girl, with lots of opinions and a big laugh from America. The world let’s me be. That is why I stay in it.
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