Famine in Cape Verde


The archipelago of Cape Verde has been struck by a series of drought-related famines between the 1580s and the 1950s. During these periods of drought and famine, tens of thousands of inhabitants died from starvation and diseases.

Background

The Cape Verde islands have a generally hot semi-arid climate, with substantial rainfall limited to the summer months August and September. The driest areas are the low eastern islands, and the southwestern parts of the more mountainous islands. The higher and northeastern, windward parts receive more precipitation. Agriculture strongly depends on the summer rains; in years with less rain, crop failure was common. The situation was further aggravated by unsuitable crop choice, overpopulation, overgrazing, soil erosion and inadequate response from the Portuguese colonial administration.

Historical famines

The following famines have been recorded:
Two of Cape Verde's worst-ever famines occurred in 1941-43 and 1947-48, killing an estimated 45,000 people. The hardest hit were the islands of São Nicolau and Fogo, where resp. 28% and 31% of the population was killed. In 1946-48, Santiago lost 65% of its population. Several thousands of islanders emigrated, for instance accepting contract labour on the cocoa plantations of Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe. Between 1900 and 1970, about 80,000 Cape Verdeans were shipped to São Tomé and Príncipe. The Estado Novo government of Portugal showed little interest in its African colony, and failed to take measures to improve access to fresh water, or supply food aid.

In popular culture

Fome 47, one of the best known songs by Cape Verdean musician Codé di Dona, relates the drought, famine and emigration to São Tomé in 1947. The third and final part of the novel Chiquinho by Baltasar Lopes da Silva is focused on the calamity of drought, a major problem in Cape Verde, which results in famine and many deaths.