Culture

Cape Verdean social and cultural patterns are very similar to those in rural Portugal, with some African twists. Football games and church activities are typical sources of social interaction and entertainment. The traditional walk around the pra�a (town square) to meet friends is practiced regularly in towns all over Cape Verde.

Music
Cape Verde is home to a variety of musical styles incorporating Portuguese, Caribbean, African, and Brazilian influences. One of the most popular is the foot stomping funana, a dance beat which is popular in Praia and the cities and towns. The morna is the quintessential national style of song which is typically slow and melancholic, it is generally played in a minor key and typically sung in Cape Verdean Creole. The coladeira is a fast-moving, fluffy style of dance music. The country's most well known musician is Cesaria Evora, also known as the 'barefoot diva', she sings in the traditional Cabo styles. The country's national anthem is � Patria Amada (This Is Our Beloved Country).

Literature
Considering how small Cape Verde is it has produced a wealth of literature. Works written prior to independence focused on liberation and were mainly in Crioulo. Post independence the theme became more about mass emigration from the islands by the American immigrants and also racial discrimination. Some writers today continue to write in Crioulo, while others write in Portuguese the dominant literary tongue.

Religion
Approximately 80% of the population is Roman Catholic.� As with many countries, the Church used to be the single largest landowner in the country, subsequent land reform has reduced the amount of land the church owns, but it still remains powerful.