Brava City Council celebrates Cape Verdean culture as the 'Soul of national identity' with sponsorship from the Ministry of Culture

The statement from the Brava Town Council, the island that is the birthplace of the poet Eugénio Tavares, whose date of birth, October 18, is celebrated as the National Day of Culture and Communities, highlights the multifaceted essence of culture. "Today we celebrate what defines us as a people, what gives soul to our identity and strength to our history - Cape Verdean Culture!" begins the note, setting a tone of deep pride.

The municipality makes a point of listing the pillars of this cultural wealth, expressly mentioning "our music, our morna and coladeira, our festivals, our art and our unique way of being and feeling." Culture is presented not just as a legacy, but as a vital driving force: "It is through culture that we preserve the past, value the present and inspire the future," declares the Town Hall.

A highlight of the statement is the formalization of the institutional commitment. The Brava City Council joins "this great national celebration, reaffirming its commitment to valuing, promoting and protecting Brava and Cape Verdean culture as one of our country's greatest assets." This is a recognition of the responsibility of local authorities in maintaining and boosting cultural heritage, particularly on the island where the legacy of the poet of mornas in Creole is of historic importance.

To make the festivities and initiatives around the date a reality, the Bravense municipality made a point of expressing "great thanks" for the crucial ministerial support. "We would like to highlight the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries in the person of His Excellency the Minister of Culture and Creative Industry, Dr. Augusto Veiga, without which it would not have been possible for us to celebrate this day with pomp and circumstance," the statement stresses. This public thank-you reinforces the importance of cooperation between the central government and local authorities in holding major cultural events, which serve to mobilize the community and put the island on the map of national celebrations.

The message from the Brava City Council ends with a vibrant appeal to a sense of belonging and self-worth. "May we never lack pride in being who we are - a people of culture, creativity and soul!" The celebration on Brava, an island often associated with poetry and the melancholy of the morna, thus reiterates the invaluable role that culture plays in social cohesion and the projection of Cape Verdean identity around the world.