Cape Verdean leaders, most of them from Dorchester and Roxbury, and city officials celebrated the 49th anniversary of Cape Verde attaining its freedom from Portugal with a ceremonial flag raising at City Hall on July 5 that attracted hundreds of participants.

The event was one of a host of events that took place last week to mark the United States and Cape Verdean birthdays of independence. Local officials welcomed the prime minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia e Silva, and a cadre of other Cape Verdean officials to the flag raising. There was a music festival at City Hall on July 4, a “40-under-40” gala leadership celebration on July 2, and a breakfast at the State House on July 5.

Mayor Wu and Silva said they hoped to continue the tradition of coming together in July to strengthen the relationship between Boston and Cape Verde. In the larger picture, Massachusetts has the highest concentration of Cape Verdean Americans and Cape Verdean immigrants in the United States, with a good deal of them calling Dorchester home.

Piter Brandao, state Rep. Chris Worrell, Jolivia Barros, Titciana Barros, and Valduvino Goncalves.

State Sen. Liz Miranda, Evandro Carvalho, director of the Office of Police Accountability, Election Commissioner Eneida Tavares, and Council President Ruthzee Louijeune.

Councillor Tania Fernandes Anderson.

Paulo Debarros, president of the Cape Verdean Association of Boston, led a moment of silence for the Freedom Fighters who gained independence in 1975.

Maribel Veiga sings the Cape Verdean National Anthem while Cape Verdean Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva stands at attention.

Nhá Balila, left, speaks with an old friend. Balila is known as the Queen of Cape Verdean Batuku – a traditional form of music and dance.

Dozens of young people from the St. Peter’s Teen Center on Bowdoin Street gathered to celebrate Cape Verdean independence.