Amílcar Cabral role in the linguistic identity, multilingualism and post-independence process in Cabo Verde

Abstract

This study explores how Amílcar Cabral influenced Cabo Verde's linguistic identity and advanced the idea of multilingualism, especially after the country gained independence. Being one of the main leaders in the liberation struggle against the oppressive Portuguese colonial regime, Cabral was aware of how tightly linked language was to cultural and national identities. Cabral's move to encourage the use of Kriolu, the local creole language, was the highlight of efforts to unify the ethnic groups of Cabo Verde and helped generate a sense of national pride through the nation's cultural identity. Moreover, by emphasizing multilingualism, Cabral was able to strike a balance between Kriolu and Portuguese, thereby creating a linguistic culture that recognizes the colony’s past and the future to be shaped by the global community. This research investigates Cabral's language policies and the influence of these policies on the various sectors of education, politics, and cultural expression in post-independence Cabo Verde. We reveal how Cabral's concepts of language policy and identity continue to shape discussions in Cabo Verde today, thereby highlighting the key role linguistic diversity plays in the nation's ongoing socioeconomic progress.