Rabelados
Encyclopedia
The Rabelados were a religious community primarily found in the interior of the island of Santiago
of Cape Verde
. They were among the groups which revolted against the liturgical reforms of the Catholic church introduced in the 1940's, isolating themselves from the rest of society. Today, the group is in danger of extinction.
Some groups amongst the population rebelled against these alterations. Known in the Cape Verdean Creole language as rabelados ("rebels"), they came to practice their earlier traditions in secrecy.
The Rabelados were ridiculed by the rest of society, denounced and persecuted. The authorities relocated many of them to other islands, and many were arrested.
Forced to form cohesive groups in order to survive, the Rabelados community primarily took refuge in the interior of Santiago, in inaccessible mountainous areas, primarily around the Município do Tarrafal and the Município da Santa Cruz. In those semi-clandestine, isolated conditions, they preserved their religious and cultural traditions, and independence, in the face of the Catholic hierarchy and political powers.
The number of Rabelados is decreasing, as the older generation dies off. The youth have distanced themselves from the religious rites and are rarely found practicing their predecessors' customs. The head of the community, Nho Agostinho, died in 2006. The current leader is Moisés Lopes Pereira, and the Espinho Branco community numbers some 2,000 individuals.
The community has recently become more open to the outside world, and academic studies of the community. Academic Júlio Monteiro wrote his work Os rebelados da ilha de Santiago de Cabo Verde (Centro de Estudos de Cabo Verde, 1974). In 2004 a CD was produced with religious chants of the Rabelados, including traditional themes rarely encountered elsewhere: Cânticos sagrados de Cabo Verde - A litania dos Rabelados (Abidjan/Quintalvideo). The painter Misá has also worked researching the culture and traditions of the community, having guided Rabelado painters, such as Tchetcho, to participate in ARCO, Feira Internacional de Arte Contemporânea de Madrid, in February 2007.
Historically, the Rabelados remained a symbol of resistance and the spirit of Cape Verdean independence against institutional powers.
Santiago, Cape Verde
Santiago , or Santiagu in Cape Verdean Creole, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation’s population. At the time of Darwin's voyage it was called St. Jago....
of Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. They were among the groups which revolted against the liturgical reforms of the Catholic church introduced in the 1940's, isolating themselves from the rest of society. Today, the group is in danger of extinction.
History
In the 1940s the Catholic church sent various priests to Cape Verde to replace local priests and introduce alterations in the celebrations of Mass and other religious customs, particularly religious education.Some groups amongst the population rebelled against these alterations. Known in the Cape Verdean Creole language as rabelados ("rebels"), they came to practice their earlier traditions in secrecy.
The Rabelados were ridiculed by the rest of society, denounced and persecuted. The authorities relocated many of them to other islands, and many were arrested.
Forced to form cohesive groups in order to survive, the Rabelados community primarily took refuge in the interior of Santiago, in inaccessible mountainous areas, primarily around the Município do Tarrafal and the Município da Santa Cruz. In those semi-clandestine, isolated conditions, they preserved their religious and cultural traditions, and independence, in the face of the Catholic hierarchy and political powers.
Modernity
The largest community of Rabelados currently live in Espinho Branco. Their homes are very simple, and they reject elements of modernity such as radio and television, and their culture has a distinct millenarian bent. They are primarily involved in agricultare, fishing, and handcrafts. Their religious ceremonies take place on Saturdays or Sundays. On those days they do not work, but travel long distances on foot to ceremonial locations, and fast until mid-afternoon.The number of Rabelados is decreasing, as the older generation dies off. The youth have distanced themselves from the religious rites and are rarely found practicing their predecessors' customs. The head of the community, Nho Agostinho, died in 2006. The current leader is Moisés Lopes Pereira, and the Espinho Branco community numbers some 2,000 individuals.
The community has recently become more open to the outside world, and academic studies of the community. Academic Júlio Monteiro wrote his work Os rebelados da ilha de Santiago de Cabo Verde (Centro de Estudos de Cabo Verde, 1974). In 2004 a CD was produced with religious chants of the Rabelados, including traditional themes rarely encountered elsewhere: Cânticos sagrados de Cabo Verde - A litania dos Rabelados (Abidjan/Quintalvideo). The painter Misá has also worked researching the culture and traditions of the community, having guided Rabelado painters, such as Tchetcho, to participate in ARCO, Feira Internacional de Arte Contemporânea de Madrid, in February 2007.
Historically, the Rabelados remained a symbol of resistance and the spirit of Cape Verdean independence against institutional powers.
External links
- Texto de Luís Carvalho, na Fragata (revista dos TACV), reproduzido em Cabo Verde - As Ilhas da Morabeza.
- Primeiro Ministro visita comunidade dos Rabelados, 9 de Fevereiro de 2007.