Reconstruction of cape verdean identities in the spanish migratory context: between colonial heritage and cultural hybridity

Abstract

Contemporary global mobility generates multicultural individuals whose trajectories are marked by structural inequalities inherited from colonialism. These inequalities, however, remain invisible in institutional discourses that address multiculturalism only superficially. Throughout the 21st century, research on racial power structures has been limited; therefore, we propose to investigate the identity processes of migrant communities settled in culturally diverse regions of Europe.
This study analyses the reconstruction of Afro-descendant Cape Verdean identities in El Bierzo (León, Spain). Consequently, it aims to fill a gap in the literature on Afro-descendant identities in rural European contexts. The study highlights a marginalised community, with particular attention to the cultural, linguistic and social expressions that shape the identity locally known as "Cabobercian". Furthermore, the concept of "Cabobercian" is proposed as a situated analytical category, useful for addressing hybrid and dynamic forms of belonging, shaped by African, Lusophone, migrant, and Biercian influences.
To conduct our research, we will employ a qualitative methodology grounded in interviews, participant observation, and documentary analysis, drawing on theories of social identity (Tajfel), cultural hybridity (Bhabha), and Afrocentric perspectives (Cabral, Hall, Hooks).