History
Located in the lee of Cape Verde, west of Fogo Island, Brava Island is the smallest island of the country, with an area of 67 km2 and a population of about 5,500 inhabitants.
Known as the island of flowers, due to the beauty of its landscape favored by the presence of flowers in the gardens of the houses, all over the island, Brava Island is very interesting for its culture, history, charm and its maritime coast. The island is known for its architecture with typical colonial buildings, for the intangible heritage represented by its culture and musical tradition, birthplace of one of the greatest composers of mornas of Cape Verde, Eugenio Tavares, for the beauty of its coastline and the strong bond of its people with the United States due to the migratory currents to this country, which began in the nineteenth century for the mythical whale hunt in the northern seas.
Nomenclature
When the island was discovered, it was named S. João. However, some time later, the name was changed because of the island’s flowery appearance.
It was given the name “Brava”, which means “wild”. Since “brave” is an adjective, as well as “wild”, “rebel”, “green” or any other adjective, the name of the island, unlike all the others, is not governed by the preposition “of”, as is the case with the nouns – names of things (Fogo, Maio, Sal) or names of saints (São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, São Vicente, etc.)
Even in Creole, there is this difference: we say Dja d’ Sal, Dja di’ Mai’, Dja di Santiagu, Dja di’ Fogu, but never Dja di Braba, it is always Dja Braba.
Intangible Heritage – Festivities in Brava
- January 5th – Kings Day
- January 20th – Saint Sebastian’s Day
- May 3rd- Santa Cruz *culinha
- June 13th – Saint Anthony
- June 24th – Saint John (Patron of the island)
- June 29th – Saint Peter’s
- First Sunday in July – Saint Paul’s Day
- Second Sunday of July – Saint Paulinho’s Day
- End of July – Santaninha’s Day
- End of July – Sant’Ana Day
- First half of August – Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes e Conacry
- August 15th – Nossa Senhora da Graça
- November 1st – All Saints’ Day
- Month of June – Emigrant’s Day
Points of Historical-Cultural Interest
- Churches : Fajã D’água, Nova Sintra, Furna, Nª Sra. do Monte from mount
- Memorial to the boat Matilde – Fajã D’água
- Santa Bárbara
- Nova Sintra
- House of Eugénio Tavares – Museum of Brava
- Nova Sintra
- Eugénio Tavares Square in Nova Sintra
- Cova Rodela
- Cova Joana
- Nossa Senhora do Monte
- Mato Grande
- Cachaço
- Baleia e Garça
