Street vendors

You can see street vendors in many popular cities around the world. Especially in touristic places. You will also find street vendors in Cape Verde, such as in Santa Maria and at Buracona on the island Sal. What many people do not know is that the street vendors that are persistent and are a bit annoying are not local Cape Verdeans. You hardly hear or see local Cape Verdean street vendors. Sometimes you even get the feeling that they do not even want to sell. They are very relaxed (morabeza). The sellers who are persistent are coming from the main land of Africa.

Persistent Senegalese street vendors

The street vendors that are using a persevering method of selling something are coming from the main land of Africa. Mostly from Senegal. These are not Cape Verdeans. The vendors of the main land try to get attached to you. They address you with a few simple and positive questions to which you just have to answer “yes”. For example: “Are you from England?” or “Nice weather he?” This gets you in a positive mood and a connection has been made. If you are not interested, the best way is to say firmly “no, thank you” in a friendly way and keep smiling. Avoid being pulled into a conversation. This way you will not be bothered by the sellers. Also resist invitations to walk to their shop or market place. It is then even more difficult to resist any offer.