How did the magazine Claridade help develop a Cabo Verdean cultural identity?

Between 1936 and 1960, the literary magazine Claridade ("Clarity") served as the focal point for an artistic movement that fundamentally reshaped Cabo Verdean cultural identity.12

The magazine was instrumental in marking a definitive break from traditional Portuguese literary influences. By shifting the focus toward the everyday lives and suffering of the Cabo Verdean people, the Claridade poets and writers fostered a new sense of national consciousness. Key figures associated with the movement, such as Baltasar Lopes da Silva and Jorge Barbosa, utilized realism to explore the unique cultural values and social challenges of the islands.12

This movement deepened the exploration of the tension between African and European influences and encouraged a growing interest in Crioulo culture. By integrating local folklore and themes into their work, these writers helped establish a distinct Cabo Verdean identity that subsequent generations further developed by incorporating the Crioulo language alongside Portuguese.12