Cabo Verde's Government Program Aims to Elevate Culture to Strategic Economic Sector
Cabo Verde's "Cabo Verde for All" government program seeks to redefine culture as a strategic economic sector, moving beyond its traditional role as mere governance ornamentation. The initiative aims to leverage cultural assets for economic growth, job creation, income generation, and international projection. Key cultural components identified include music, literature, theater, dance, cinema, visual arts, crafts, and gastronomy, with "Morna" serving as a prime example of cultural and economic potential. The program acknowledges culture as a vital source of heritage, social cohesion, and development.
However, the program's ambitious vision faces challenges in its execution. While dedicating two pages to culture within a larger 119-page government plan, the specifics of implementation, including clear goals, allocated resources, defined responsibilities, timelines, and evaluation metrics, are notably absent. The proposed inclusion of Music and Artistic Education in the school curriculum is highlighted as a crucial structural measure, but its success hinges on adequate teacher training, resources, and inter-institutional collaboration. Similarly, fostering children's literature and promoting international book translations are positive steps, yet they require a comprehensive national policy for books, reading, and publishing, encompassing libraries, publishers, bookstores, and school reading programs.
The plan also addresses cultural heritage through inventory and protection of tangible and intangible assets, and proposes territorial balance by announcing new cultural infrastructure like auditoriums, museums, and galleries across all islands. The establishment of an Artist's Statute, social protection, and funding for cultural industries are recognized as essential for acknowledging artists as professionals and ensuring fair remuneration. The program also seeks to integrate cultural offerings with tourism and engage the diaspora as a cultural subject, while cautioning against the commodification of cultural expressions. A significant omission is the lack of a dedicated policy for the Cabo Verdean language, which is identified as a core element of national identity and heritage.
The Cabo Verde government's "Cabo Verde for All" program signals a strategic shift, recognizing culture's potential for economic development alongside its intrinsic value. This approach acknowledges that cultural heritage, from music to language, can be a driver of employment and international presence. However, the program's success hinges on bridging the gap between aspirational statements and concrete implementation. The analysis suggests that without defined budgets, timelines, responsible parties, and robust evaluation frameworks, ambitious cultural initiatives risk remaining symbolic rather than transformative. The emphasis on education and infrastructure is positive, but the sustainability of these efforts will depend on ongoing support and a clear understanding of the systemic needs of a cultural ecosystem, including robust policies for book publishing and linguistic preservation. Future policy development should focus on creating predictable funding streams, transparent governance, and fostering an environment that supports artistic freedom and long-term institutional continuity, ensuring cultural initiatives are driven by national development goals rather than short-term political expediency.
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