This article is a list of notable people related to Cape Verde.
The words “Cabo Verdean” are not always used to express the same notions. They can be used to express:
- People who were born in Cape Verde and/or were raised in Cape Verde, generally having lived most of their lives in Cape Verde and who ethnically identify themselves as Cape Verdeans.
- People who may or may not have born in Cape Verde, having lived most of their lives outside Cape Verde, having a different nationality than Cape Verdean. Many of these people also have Cape Verdean nationality. Most of these people ethnically identify themselves as Cape Verdeans, having strong ties with Cape Verde and Cape Verdean culture.
- People who were not born in Cape Verde but with one or both parents being of one of the two criteria above. Since the ties between Cape Verdean descendants and Cape Verde are usually long lasting, these people often consider themselves as being "Cape Verdeans".
Cape Verdean people
Music – singers, musicians and composers
- Mayra Andrade (1985–), singer, living in France
- Bana (1932–2013), singer
- Bau (1962–), musician, composer
- Teófilo Chantre (1964–), musician, living in France
- Bela Duarte, artist
- Cesária Évora (1941–2011), singer and global popularizer of morna and coladeira
- Fantcha (1956–), singer
- Ana Firmino (1953–), singer, living in Portugal
- Jotamont (1912–1988), composer of morna
- Ildo Lobo (1953–2004), singer with Os Tubarões
- Suzanna Lubrano (1975–), zouk singer, living in Netherlands
- Vasco Martins (1956–), musician, composer
- Karin Mensah (1965–), jazz singer and music educator living in Italy
- Manuel de Novas (1938–2009), composer
- Tito Paris (1963–), musician, composer, singer, living in Portugal
- Fernando Quejas (1922–2005), singer and songwriter
- Gil Semedo (1974–), singer, composer, living in Netherlands
- Armando Zeferino Soares (1920–2007), composer of the famous song "Sodade"
- Eugénio Tavares (1867–1930), greatest composer of morna
- Tcheka (1973–), singer, composer, musician
- Antoninho Travadinha, violinist
- Dona Tututa (1919–2014), composer and pianist
Poets
- Aguinaldo Fonseca (1922–2014)
- Sergio Frusoni (1901–1975), Cape Verdean poet of Italian descent and promoter of the Cape Verdean Creole language
- Gabriel Mariano (1928–2002), poet and an essayist
- Ovídio Martins (1928–1999), poet, journalist
- Manuel de Novas (1938–2009), poet, composer
- Eugénio Tavares (1867–1930)
- Arménio Vieira (1941–), journalist
Politicians
- Honório Barreto (1813–1859), governor of the Portuguese Guinea
- Evandro Carvalho (1981–), Massachusetts State Representative
- Silvino Manuel da Luz, former Foreign Minister of Cape Verde
- Gualberto do Rosário, former Prime Minister of Cape Verde
- Abílio Duarte (1931–1996), former Foreign Minister of Cape Verde
- Corsino Fortes (1933–2015), ambassador, writer
- António Mascarenhas Monteiro (1944–2016), former President of Cape Verde
- José Maria Neves (1960–), former Prime Minister of Cape Verde
- Aristides Pereira (1923–2011), former President of Cape Verde
- Pedro Pires (1934–), former Prime Minister of Cape Verde; former President of Cape Verde
- Carlos Veiga (1949–), former Prime Minister of Cape Verde
Sports
Athletics
- Carlos Almeida (1968–), long distance runner
- Isménia do Frederico (1971–), sprinter
- Alfayaya Embalo, sprinter
- Lidiane Lopes (1994–), sprinter
- Sónia Lopes (1975–), middle distance and long-distance runner
- Denielsan Martins (1987–), sprinter
- Eva Pereira (1989–), middle distance and long-distance runner
- Ruben Sança (1986–), long-distance runner
- Lenira Santos (1987–), sprinter
- Euclides Varela (1982–), long-distance runner
- António Zeferino (1966–), long-distance runner
Boxing
- Flávio Furtado (1978–)
- Demetrius Andrade
Basketball
- Walter Tavares (1992–)
- Ryan Gomez
Football (soccer)
- Bijou Davidson (1986–)
- Djaniny (1991–)
- Freddy dos Santos
- Júlio Tavares
Writers
- Germano Almeida (1945–), author, lawyer
- Orlanda Amarílis (1924–2014)
- Jorge Barbosa (1902–1971), poet, writer
- Viriato de Barros
- Corsino Fortes (1933–2015), poet
- António Aurélio Gonçalves (1901–1984), short story writer
- Manuel Lopes (1907–2005), novelist, poet, essayist
- Baltasar Lopes da Silva (1907–1989), writer, poet, linguist
- João Cleófas Martins (1901–1970), photographer, author
- Yolanda Morazzo (1928–2009)
- Ivone Ramos (1926–2018), poet
- Henrique Teixeira de Sousa (1919–2006), writer, doctor, author
Cape Verdean people with other than Cape Verdean nationality
Music – singers, musicians and composers
- Maria de Barros, Senegalese-born, Mauritanian-grown singer, now living in United States
- Lura (1975–), Portuguese-born singer
- Boy Gé Mendes (1952–), Senegalese musician, singer and composer, founder of Paris-based Cape Verdean music bands Cabo Verde Show, Mendes e Mendes, and Mendes e Mendes & O'asah
Politicians
- Evandro Carvalho, American politician
- Vinny deMacedo (1965–)
Professors and academics
- Donaldo Macedo, University of Massachusetts Boston
Sports
Athletics
- Márcio Fernandes (1983–), paralympic javelin thrower
Basketball
- João Gomes (1985–)
Boxing
- Miguel Dias (1968–)
- Aalviar Lima (1978–)
Football (soccer)
- Cafú (1977–)
- Dady (1981–)
- Gélson Fernandes (1986–), naturalized Swiss, plays for Switzerland
- José Emilio Furtado (1983–)
- Pedro Pelé (1978–)
- Toni Varela (1986–)
- José Veiga (1976–)
- Nélson Veiga (1978–)
Writers
- Eileen Almeida Barbosa
- David Barboza (1965–), reporter, The New York Times
Cape Verdean descendants
Actors
- Michael Beach (1963–), United States actor
- Ashley Holliday (1985–), United States actress
- Lena Horne (1917–2010), United States singer, actress, civil rights activist
- Sara Martins (1977–), Portuguese-born French actress
- Anika Noni Rose (1972–), United States actress, singer
- Chelsea Tavares (1991–), United States actress, singer
Artists
- Lindsay Grace, United States game designer
Beauty queens
- Leila Lopes (1986–), Miss Universe 2011
- Tatiana Silva (1985–), was Miss Belgium in 2005
Models
- Amber Rose (1983–), United States model, recording artist, actress and socialite
Music – singers, musicians and composers
- Blu Cantrell (1976–), United States soul singer-songwriter, musician (drums and guitar), Scatter producer
- Elvis "E-Life" de Oliveira, Dutch rapper from Rotterdam
- Eddy "Eddy Fort Moda Grog" Fortes, Dutch rapper from Rotterdam
- Paul Gonsalves (1920–1974), United States musician-woodwinds and tenor saxophone
- Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (1971–2002), United States rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer and was a member of Hip-Hop group TLC
- Masspike Miles (1980–), United States singer
- Pebbles (1964–), United States radio presenter, personality and voice-over artist
- Paul Pena (1950–2005), United States singer, songwriter and guitarist
- Tavares Brothers (1959–), United States R&B, funk and soul music group
- Horace Ward Martin "Horace Silver" Tavares Silva (1928–2014 ), hard bop United States Jazz pianist, composer and bandleader
- Sara Tavares (1978–), Portuguese singer
- Elle Varner (1989–), United States singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Politicians
- Amílcar Cabral (1924–1973), Guinea-Bissau nationalist politician
Professors and academics
- Peter J. Gomes (1942–2011), United States preacher and theologian, Harvard University
- Charles Manuel "Sweet Daddy" Grace (1881 or 1884–1960), United States bishop
- Lindsay Grace, University of Miami
Sports
American football
- Stephen Cooper (1979–), United States American football player
- Wayne Fontes (1940–), United States American football player
- Tony Gonzalez (1976–), United States American football player
Athletics
- Henry Andrade (1962–), United States hurdler
- Nelson Cruz (1977–), Portuguese long distance runner
Baseball
- Wayne Gomes (1973–), United States baseball player
- Davey Lopes (1945–), United States baseball player
Boxing
- Demetrius "The Best" Andrade (1988–), United States boxer
- Marvelous Marvin Hagler (1954–), United States boxer
Basketball (NBA)
- Dana Barros (1967–), United States basketball player
- Ryan Gomes (1982–), United States basketball player
- Charles D. Smith (1965–), United States basketball player
Football (soccer)
- Jerson Cabral (1991–), Dutch football player
- Luc Castaignos (1992–), Dutch football player
- David Mendes da Silva (1982–), Dutch football player
- Lerin Duarte (1990–), Dutch football player
- Manuel Fernandes (1986–), Portuguese football player
- Henrik Larsson (1971–), Swedish football player
- Cecilio Lopes (1979–), Dutch football player
- Nani (1986–), Portuguese football player
- Guy Ramos (1985–), Dutch football player
- Patrick Vieira (1976–), French football player
Other sports
- Cynthia Barboza (1987–), United States volleyball player
- Maria Andrade (1993–), Taekwondo