Cinema of Cape Verde

Cape Verde are making headlines in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after going through their group unbeaten, holding Spain 0-0, Uruguay 2-2 and Saudi Arabia 0-0. The key point here is that Cape Verde were unbeaten against two former World Cup champions. Next, Cape Verde will take on defending World Cup Champion Argentina in the Round of 32. Long before I knew of their soccer team, I came across films from the nation.

Films set in Cape Verde

The first instance of Cape Verde that I came across in cinema was Pedro Costa’s Casa De Lava (1994).

Casa De Lava, courtesy Grasshopper films

Costa’s filming on Cape Verde led to the location of his next few films. While filming on Cape Verde, he was asked by the locals to take their letters to relatives living in Fontainhas, on the outskirts of Lisbon. Costa took those letters to Fontainhas and the rest is cinematic history with Costa’s Fontainhas Trilogy.

The next film that I saw in Cape Verde was a Portuguese production, Djon Africa. It was a film that I adored and programmed for my film festival in 2018.

Djon Africa (2018, Portugal, Filipa Reis/João Miller Guerra)

In Djon Africa, Miguel Moreira’s laid-back Portuguese life takes a turn when someone tells him he looks like his father. Miguel doesn’t know anything about his father or his roots. When his grandmother reveals that his father was banished to Cape Verde, Miguel makes a quick decision to visit Cape Verde and track down his father. With minimal information and money, Miguel’s charm ensures no door in Cape Verde is closed for him. As he goes deeper into the island, fuelled by the national drink grogue, reality and dreams slowly blend resulting in a life-changing journey.

Co-written by Pedro Pinho (The Nothing Factory), Djon Africa is a playful film that highlights the picturesque landscape of Cape Verde and raises relevant questions about identity for those whose lives are caught between two nations.

Djon Africa came out in 2018 but its relevance can apply to many of the players of the current Cape Verde soccer team, many of whom were born elsewhere but are representing Cape Verde in the World Cup.

Cinema of Cape Verde

For another soccer film festival, I came across Cape Verde, My Love (2007, Ana Lúcia Ramos Lisboa).  More than a decade ago, it was tough to find films from Cape Verde. However, that appears to be changing. There is a “Nova Vaga Cabo Verde” (Cape Verdean New Cinema) which has led to more works appearing at film festivals around the world.

The following is a useful link to hunt down more films from Cape Verde: Contemporary Cape Verdean Cinema.