Madonna’s new single “Batuko” explores the interesting history of Cape Verde, in particular the slave trade. It is often reported that Cape Verde is the birth place of slavery between Africa and America. Cape Verde was a trading post for enslaved people coming from Guinea-Bissau and going to Brazil. In 1807 the British government passed the Abolition of Slave Act, abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire, and while this did not end slavery it severely reduced the demand for slaves and made the actual transatlantic slave trade illegal.
In the music video, the Cape Verdean women sing and dance in the traditional style called Batuque. The song ends with all of the women holding hands and standing firm in a united front, providing a very strong message of unity and freedom 👌🏾