High school student groups were the main attraction of Carnaval festivities in São Vicente yesterday, the eve of the big day today. On Sunday, festivities were undertaken by groups from Mindelo’s outlying neighborhoods. 

Brilho d’ Monte, Tucim Bedjo, Alegria Bela Vista, Flores de Fonte Francês and Brincalhões do Mindelo flooded the city’s streets until approximately 7:00 pm Sunday, with a variety of different themes underlying their respective costumes and songs.

Kings, queens, ballerinas, witches, punks and other characters took over the streets of São Vicente this morning to mark the beginning of Carnival festivities, which will run until Ash Wednesday morning.
Pupils at the island's kindergartens and elementary schools left the classroom and invaded the main thoroughfares of Mindelo, with children and onlookers dancing and singing to the rhythm of the drums and sambas.

On Monday, the festivities were under the charge of organised groups from a number of São Vicente's neighbourhoods, as well as spontaneous revellers, all of them made the carnival worthy of Mindelo residents' expectations. These, however, are but appetisers for the main festivities, which took place last night and tonight.

The Mindelo Carnival is famous far beyond São Vicente island. Even in the Cape Verdean capital Praia, which is always competing with Mindelo, it is recognised that the country's second city has the best and most famous carnival. In the February days, São Vicente for once is the centre of attention, with most national and international tourists.

Also internationally, the São Vicente Carnival is beginning to attract more attention. By now, it has become Africa's most known carnival, beating Bissau, Luanda and Maputo. In size, the Mindelo Carnival yet not can compete with the tourism event carnivals of Tenerife and Gran Canaria on the neighbouring Canary Islands, but it certainly can compete on authenticity, colour and livelihood.

source afrol & asemna