BROCKTON — Thousands of attendees gathered at Campanelli Stadium on Sunday evening to honor the annual eventCape Verdean Day Festival, a free event organized by the Brockton Cape Verdean Association. It was the association’s 31st, and their biggest one so far.
The initial Cape Verdean Day was a more modest event, according to Moises Rodrigues, leader of the Cape Verdean Association and a former mayor.He is running for mayor once more this year.Taking place on the steps of Brockton City Hall more than 30 years ago, only around 20 to 30 individuals attended, with the primary activity being the raising of a flag.
People had their reservations back then. “When you said, ‘Hey, we’re going to go raise our flag at City Hall, and people would say, really? Are you sure?” he recalled. “Are you breaking into City Hall?”
However, on Sunday at Campanelli, in the area with food vendors above the bleachers, sellers offered Cape Verdean cuisine, jewelry, and various products, along with booths from banks, insurance companies, and government organizations.
The venue was entirely filled with individuals from various age groups, some adorned with Cape Verdean flags or wearing shirts that honored the nation, which is an island group located off the western coast of Africa. This gathering took place on the same day as the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence from Portugal, which is observed on July 5.
‘So much pride’
On Sunday evening, the main attraction was a stage located near second base on the baseball field. Musicians and dancers performed from the afternoon until 10 p.m. The music was performed in Kriolu, a Portuguese-based creole language used in Cape Verde, and featured styles such as the lively accordion-driven Funaná. People gathered on the field in front of the stage, dancing and singing along.
More than 8,000 individuals attended the festival, as reported by the Cape Verdean Association.
MC Panki, a well-known musician from Cape Verde, was among the artists who performedand he created some commotion when he arrived with his group through the same entrance as everyone else.
He was among the select “big name artists” at the event, according to Marcel Rodrigues, Moises’ sibling, who spoke with The Enterprise just outside the stadium entrance, where the music was somewhat quieter. Although these musicians are well-known in the area, they don’t behave as if they’re different from others or employ bodyguards to keep fans at a distance. “They blend in with everyone,” he mentioned. “You can see them walking in here. They pass right by you and shake your hand.”
Although the festival is large, Moises Rodrigues will not allow anyone to charge for it “until the day he dies,” his brother stated.
The gathering has consistently brought together Brockton’s Cape Verdean community, according to Marcel Rodrigues. Even during the city’s most violent period in the early 2000s, there were no problems with “firearms, stabbings,” he mentioned. He believes gangs never created any issues because “people felt a lot of pride in this event,” he added.
It’s a method to present the city, “We’re decent individuals. We have lawyers, doctors,” he mentioned.
What sets Cape Verdean culture apart is the sense of community, explained Marcel Rodrigues. He pointed to two young children walking by independently. “You see two kids right there — parents aren’t concerned about them. They experience freedom” since everyone nearby is like family.
Maintaining the culture
At the Cape Verdean Day Festival on Sunday, Alex Evora was offering handcrafted jewelry composed of shells, pearls, quartz, and additional materials. He originated from Cape Verde and currently resides in Amherst. Participating in the event is more than just a reminder of the islands for him.
“From a spiritual perspective, it is Cape Verde,” he said.
Wherever members of the Cape Verdean diaspora come together, that is where their identity is found, he stated. “We share the same language, the same cuisine, the same dancing, the same music,” he added. “It’s incredible.”
The same applies to Brockton as a whole, he mentioned, where numerous restaurants and shops offer Cape Verdean products and display signs in Kriolu. He explained that the culture works in such a way that he could visit any Cape Verdean home in the city, knock on their door, and request food or water, and they would provide it. “And they feel proud,” he added. “They want to show you their house.”
Evora’s creative approach, which he refers to as green arts, is deeply influenced by his early years in Cape Verde. He relocated to the United States at the age of 38.
Growing up there, “All the kids are artists,” he mentioned. They created their toys using any available natural materials, such as stones, bones, or bamboo.
We didn’t grow up in a home. We do on the streets,” he stated. “Each neighborhood functions as a family.
However, Manuel Andrade, who established the Brockton Cape Verdean Association in the 1960s, is concerned that the culture is beginning to weaken. According to him, the community—located throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island—has too many commitments to come together and honor their heritage.
Everyone is occupied in the United States,” he stated. “If we don’t have one day to bring everyone together, no one will find the time.
(This tale was revised to include additional details.)
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This piece first was published on The Enterprise:”Such great pride”: Thousands gather at Campanelli for the Cape Verdean Day Festival. What it was like
