“You do have to adapt, leave things from your home country, and move forward,” Antonio says. He came to the Netherlands because his parents were already here. In 1960, the port of Rotterdam attracted his father from Cape Verde to work in seafaring. Thus, many Cape Verdeans were brought to Rotterdam. Later, the government even offered to bring their families to the Netherlands. And that is also what Antonio’s father did.
First, little Antonio was raised in Cape Verde by his grandmother and mother, until his mother had to go to Portugal eight years later for treatment for his sick sister. After this, his mother and sister wanted to join their father. Antonio stayed with his grandmother for a few more years until, at the age of 14, he was also allowed to join his family in the Netherlands. “When I came here to Rotterdam, I was very happy to be with my parents again. We made a lot of friends, had a good time. Back then, everyone lived for each other, everyone got on well with each other. Now that has diminished a bit.”
Music
He first lived in Delfshaven, later in Spangen. But he got used very quickly and quickly adopted Dutch traditions. Still, he remains Cape Verdean in his blood and you can’t get that out. “Music is in the blood of all Cape Verdeans. And half of us live outside Cape Verde so we take this around the world,” he laughs. He himself plays Cape Verdean drums, with which he has even performed. He also plays guitar as a hobby.
My country
He also goes back to Cape Verde regularly. “Because we have relatives there. We don’t forget our country.” Yet he will never go back to his homeland. “Because I grew up here, met my wife here and have four sons here. My father did not leave for us and I will not leave for my children. This is my country.”