Scattered across the Atlantic archipelago of Cape Verde, a often overlooked Jewish community left its mark on the islands' social, commercial, and cultural fabric between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. Arriving mostly from North Africa — particularly from cities such as Mogador, Tangier, Rabat, and Gibraltar — these Sephardic merchants, traders, and entrepreneurs found in Cape Verde a place where they could rebuild their lives and expand their commercial networks.
Drawing on archival research from the National Historical Archive of Cape Verde, historian Cláudia Correia traces the presence of Jewish families across multiple islands, documenting their surnames, origins, professions, and the commercial associations they formed. Beyond their economic role, the story of these families raises deeper questions about identity, religious tolerance, and belonging — questions that came to a head in 1915, when a dispute over the right to bury their dead in a private cemetery on the island of Boavista sparked a legal and administrative battle that would last nearly a decade.
| Origin | Surnames |
|---|---|
| Mogador (Morocco) | Bendavid, Brigham, Naury |
| Gibraltar | Seruya, Levy Bentubo, Abecasis, Bendaham, Benunas, Anahory, Pairmy, Wahnon, Benrós, Athias, Benazon |
| Argel | Pimenta, Cardoso, Benchmol, Azancot, N(i)une, Ismini |
| Rabat (Morocco) | Benholiel, Benatar, Elasry, Lasene, Benhaim |
| Tânger | Auday, Cagi, Benrós, Gabay, Pinto, Abitbôl, Azancot, Benhaim, Levy, Bento d'Oliveira |
| Morocco (geral) | Naury, Anahory, Cohen, Lassarine, Boaruna, Naure, El-Caim |
| Tunis | Azulay, Azancot, Asencot |
| Oran | Benchmol |
| Lisboa (Portugal) | Anahory, Azevey, Anabory, Benrós |
| Lagos / Algarve (Portugal) | Levy (Bento Levy) |
| Morocco – Mogador | Brigham, Zagury |
Olá!
I usually go by the title of Digital Designer, but let's be honest, that's just scratching the surface of all the creative chaos my mind got into.
I’m a proud “Black Ribatejana”, born and raised in Portugal with Capeverdean roots. Lately, I have become passionate about genealogy and a bit obsessed about uncovering my roots.
