The Cape Verdean community celebrated 48 years of independence from colonial rule on July 5 at a Boston City Hall flag-raising ceremony. Numerous organizations were in attendance, including the Cape Verdean Association of Boston based on Bowdoin Street, the St. Peter’s Teen Center, Cape Verdean Mayoral Liaison Alize Cabral, and representatives from St. Patrick’s, St. Peter’s, and Holy Family parishes.

After 500 years of colonial rule by Portugal, Cape Verde gained its independence on July 5, 1975, following decades of struggle by “freedom fighters” like Amilcar Cabral. Waves of immigrants came to Boston and New Bedford from 1940 to 1970, many of them settling in Dorchester and Roxbury, where the community remains strong to this day.

“Cape Verdeans make up so much of this community and they have infused so much vibrancy in our neighborhoods of Roxbury, South Boston, and Dorchester,” said Mayor Wu, noting that Praia, the Cape Verdean capital, is a sister city to Boston.

Cape Verdean Minister of Communities Jorge Santos noted that Boston is home to a huge number of the Cape Verdean diaspora and that there is a concerted effort by the government to reach out to young people in Boston. “The Cape Verdean community has a long history here,” he said, noting that the story goes back to the days of the whaling ships in New Bedford.

Rev. John Currie, Jose Barros, and Rev. Steven Restrepo, of St. Patrick’s, St. Peter’s, and Holy Family parishes, respectively, in Dorchester and Roxbury.

From the St. Peter’s Teen Center, Alana Almeida, Luisa Barbosa, Chaiana Fernandes, and Nilda Barros repped the Cape Verdean flag during the ceremony at City Hall.