A Semana (Cape Verde)

A Semana (Cape Verde) is a weekly newspaper published in Praia on the island of Santiago, Cape Verde. Founded in the early 1990s, it developed amid the political changes following the end of the single-party era and the introduction of multi-party politics. The title has reported on national affairs, local events, cultural festivals, economic developments, and international relations involving Cape Verde.

History

A Semana began publication shortly after the reintroduction of multi-party politics alongside contemporaries such as Expresso das Ilhas, Inforpress, and broadcasters like RTC. Its emergence paralleled constitutional reforms enacted in the 1990s and the administrations of figures such as Aristides Pereira and António Mascarenhas Monteiro, and later the governments led by José Maria Neves and Ulisses Correia e Silva. Early issues covered the aftermath of the dissolution of the PAICV monopoly and the rise of the MpD. The paper chronicled key national events including elections, transitions between presidents like Pedro Pires and Jorge Carlos Fonseca, and legislative sessions of the National Assembly (Cape Verde). During the 2000s and 2010s it reported on crises connected to droughts affecting the Cape Verde Islands and on cooperation with partners such as Portugal, Brazil, United States, and organizations like the European Union and the United Nations.

Editorial Profile and Content

A Semana’s editorial stance blended reporting on political developments with coverage of cultural life including festivals like Carnaval de Praia, musical currents tied to artists such as Cesária Évora, Tito Paris, and Mayra Andrade, and the prominence of genres including morna and coladeira. The paper covered economic topics involving sectors like tourism in Sal, Cape Verde, remittances from diaspora communities in Lisbon, Boston, Paris, and trade links with ports such as Mindelo and Tarrafal. It featured columns and analyses engaging personalities including journalists, academics from institutions like the University of Cape Verde, and policymakers from ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cape Verde). Coverage included sports reporting on clubs like Sporting Praia, CS Mindelense, and national team fixtures, as well as cultural reviews referencing works and awards connected to figures like Orlanda Amarílis and venues such as the Palácio da Cultura Ildo Lobo.

Publication and Distribution

Printed in tabloid format, the newspaper was produced in Praia with distribution across islands including Santo Antão, Fogo, Boa Vista, São Vicente, Brava, and São Nicolau. Copies reached municipal centers like Santa Catarina (Praia), Ribeira Grande (Santo Antão), and marketplaces in Mindelo (São Vicente), with sales through kiosks, bookstores, and subscriptions used by residents and diaspora in cities such as Lisbon, Porto, New Bedford, and Mindelo. A Semana supplemented print output with an online presence reflecting practices used by outlets such as TV Cabo Verde and A Nação, adapting to digital platforms and social networks similar to pages run by Cape Verdean community organizations abroad.

Circulation and Readership

Readership included policymakers in institutions like the Presidency of Cape Verde, members of the National Assembly, civil society actors, entrepreneurs in tourism hubs such as Santa Maria (Sal), and students at the University of Cape Verde. The paper’s audience also encompassed diaspora communities in metropolitan areas like Lisbon, London, Boston, Paris, and Amsterdam, where Cape Verdean associations and cultural centers circulated issues. Circulation figures varied with seasonal tourism peaks in islands like Boa Vista and events such as the Festa da Bandeira; the title competed for readership with newspapers including Expresso das Ilhas and A Nação and with broadcasters such as RDP África and RTC.

Notable Coverage and Impact

A Semana reported on significant national moments including presidential elections, parliamentary debates in the National Assembly (Cape Verde), regional cooperation initiatives within the Economic Community of West African States context, and international agreements with partners like Portugal and Brazil. Investigative pieces and features highlighted social issues such as migration flows between Cape Verde and Europe, development projects involving agencies like the European Investment Bank and NGOs, and cultural preservation efforts for music tied to artists such as Cesária Évora and festivals like Tabanka. Coverage influenced public debate alongside other media institutions including Inforpress, Radio Morabeza, and Rádio Comercial, contributing to civic discourse on topics managed by ministries and offices across the country.

Category:Newspapers published in Cape Verde Category:Mass media in Praia