Portuguese in Africa
Portuguese is a popular language in Africa. There are six countries in Africa where Portuguese is the main language. These countries are Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola and Mozambique. Portuguese in these countries is different than the language in Portugal and Brazil. Local customs and African history influence the way people write and speak Portuguese.
Government and Business
In these African countries, Portuguese is an important language. The language is common in schools, politics, newspapers and legal systems. In fact, Portuguese is responsible for the culture of these places. Many of these countries have citizens from other parts of the world. Portuguese unites these people and allows them to easily communicate.
Music and Entertainment
In these countries, Portuguese is also a popular language for music and movies. Many African singers also have fans in Portugal and Brazil, thanks to this fact. This success allows these performers to gain more recognition and international support.
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There are several African writers who use the Portuguese language. These authors include Luandino Vieira, Mia Couto, Lopito Feijoo, Luis Kandjimbo and Manuel Rui. These writers are some of Africa's most famous figures. Their books involve history, family life, tradition, and romance. These same authors receive praise for their embrace of Portuguese.
In Africa, Portuguese also features a number of Creole influences. These languages are part of the common culture, inspired by Portuguese and travelers from Europe. For example, in Cape Verde, Crioulo levinho is a form of Creole with many of the same features of Portuguese. This type of Creole uses a lot of the same vocabulary and syntax as standard Portuguese. Even people who exclusively speak Creole have some understanding of standard Portuguese. Also, most of these creoles use Portuguese writing. Speakers can often switch between Creole and standard Portuguese without any problems.
Catholicism and Portuguese
In these African countries, Portuguese is also the main language of the Catholic Church. This connection is a powerful one, going back to Portugal’s first contact with Africa. This contact began with the creation of Portuguese colonies. At the same time, Catholic missionaries from Portugal created their own communities in Africa. These efforts became part of the country’s identity. Today, Catholicism is a major religion in these various countries. In churches and schools, Portuguese continues to be the first language many people learn. This language then becomes a central part of religion, education, and daily life.
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