A vibrant and colourful Cape Verdean tradition.
História da Tabanka
Tabanka appeared in Cabo Vede, in the rural areas of the island of Santiago, around the 17th century. This phenomenon is deeply connected to the Cape Verdean essence. Dated back to May 3, the day of the Holy Cross of the slaves, when the owners, slave masters, gave freedom to the slaves for a day and they took advantage of the fact to do a justified rebellion. Tabanka was seen as a danger to the society and could foment a slave revolt. Then, this possibility of insurrection was maintained over time, until colonial society, which led to many persecutions and prohibitions over time. Today the Tabanka period starts in May until the middle of July.
Festas da Tabanka
The Tabanka festivities begin with a set of preparations that culminate with activities on the day of the group’s patron saint. In the city of Praia, preparations usually begin a few weeks before the patron saint’s day, with fundraising from public and private entities and in the community itself. This financial support is used for the purchase of decorative elements for the ornamentation of the court, maintenance and renovation of musical instruments such as the cornet, conch shells, and drums, and other equipment that are part of the festivities, purchase of food and other equipment necessary for the group, throughout the festivity, the making of the group’s clothing and the payment of the debt to the Queen or the King.
Caraterísticas da Tabanka
A Tabanka tem as suas figuras - um Rei da Corte, uma Rainha da Corte, um Rei do Campo, uma Rainha, o padre, os cativos, os forros, o médico, os ladrões, os soldados, um juiz, o louco, nalguns casos também uma enfermeira, um professor, autoridades, damas da Rainha, vários figurões. Tabanka reproduz a sociedade envolvente sob a forma de paródia, que é uma forma de a criticar e satirizar.
There is currently a Cape Verdean Association of Tabankas. There was a National Museum of Tabanka in Assomada, which is named after the musician, Norberto Tavares. There are Tabanka Houses all around the island of Santiago, especially in Chã de Tanque, that preserve the memory of Tabanka.
