Most Africans arrived in Cape Verde with the beliefs and practices of African indigenous religions or Islam—both of which were widespread on the coast of Upper Guinea—and elements of these practices have been retained. In addition to a small but important presence of Judaism, there have been increasing numbers of Protestants and some Muslims.
Religious Tolerance
From 1462 to 1975 Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Cape Verde. Tolerance of other faiths was minimal, especially during the Inquisition. Forced expulsion of Jews from Portugal to Cape Verde and the arrival of African slaves resulted in some religious diversity. Postcolonial Cape Verde has political and constitutional provisions for religious freedom, and this has been strongly observed. There are no known cases of religious persecution in practice or in the legal arena.
Major Religion
Roman Catholicism
DATE OF ORIGIN 1466 C.E.
NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS 390,000
History
Probably the first Catholic priests in Cape Verde were those who arrived in 1466 to convert the slaves that had been taken there to work on the cotton and sugar plantations. In 1533 a bishop was appointed to Ribeira Grande, and the great Sée cathedral was initiated there; it was the first Catholic cathedral in sub-Saharan Africa.
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