Africa-Press – Cape verde. The president of the Project for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Cape Verde (CVJHP), Carol Castiel, believes it is important to memorialize the arrival of Moroccan Jews in the country, highlighting the lack of documents of this event in a country known for its cultural and ethnic diversity.
Statement made today as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the Praia Jewish Cemetery.
Speaking to journalists, Carol Castiel stated that the Jewish plot is very important, because it represents the arrival of Jews, mainly from Morocco and Gibraltar, in the 19th century to Cape Verde, when it was a Portuguese colony.
The president of CVJHP emphasized the historical relevance of these Jews in Cape Verde, highlighting their role in the economy and in promoting religious freedom after the abolition of the Inquisition.
“It is very important to memorialize, because as Cape Verde is really a multicultural, multi-ethnic country, until today the arrival of these Moroccan Jews here in Cape Verde has not been well documented, and we have a lot of traces, these cemeteries are one of the only physical traces that there are plenty, because the Jews, most of them men, married a lot of women here in the country,” he said.
In turn, the mayor of Praia, Francisco Carvalho, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that “it is of extraordinary importance to celebrate the diversity of Cape Verde” and referred to the long history of the Jewish presence in the country and its contribution to culture and national development.
“At every moment of our daily life, of our history, the issue of diversity is always present. Cape Verde arises from the meeting of peoples and cultures, from the meeting of different destinations that cross beautiful islands, and Cape Verde emerges. And it is very important to highlight that other destinations in the world emerged from Cape Verde”, he considered.
The Minister of Communities, Jorge Santos, highlighted the lasting influence of the Jews in Cape Verde, from the first days of its discovery until modern times.
As I said, Jews contributed to the trade and economic development of the islands, as well as their contribution to national identity.
Santos also mentioned that the Government values the preservation and appreciation of Jewish heritage throughout the country, including the restoration of several Jewish cemeteries on several islands.
“That’s why the Jewish presence was important in 2017, when the Government decided to transform Cape Verde’s Jewish heritage and all built heritage, material and immaterial, as national historical heritage. This was a good moment and certainly what we did today is another step, with the Cape Verdean Heritage Jewish Project and also with the collaboration of Praia City Council and the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Association, recovering, making this tribute”, he said.
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