Joe DaMoura 鈥�00 is the president of the Cape Verdean Museum in Pawtucket, R.I., which celebrates the history and culture of Cape Verde and Cape Verdean Americans.
Joe DaMoura 鈥�00 and his family have a nickname for 溏心vlog免费B站, their alma mater. 鈥淲e call it the DaMoura college. Five of us are grads,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen I was a student at Hope High, I鈥檇 visit my older brother, Antonio, on the 溏心vlog免费B站 campus. He launched the country鈥檚 first Cape Verdean student organization there. I couldn鈥檛 wait to go.鈥� Joe is number three of the sibling alums; he graduated with a degree in English and psychology.
Some 25 years later, he鈥檚 president of the Cape Verdean Museum, the only one to celebrate the islands鈥� culture in the U.S., he says. The museum in its current location is the culmination of a three-year, $400,000-plus fundraising effort to migrate the 20-year-old institution to a spiffy Pawtucket space. It also reflects the islands鈥� robust immigrant community in Rhode Island, estimated at 18,000.
It鈥檚 been a long and winding road for a child who moved to Rhode Island from Cape Verde when he was just 6, along with his newly widowed mother and nine of his brothers and sisters. None of them spoke English.
鈥淲e came to a new country, on an airplane. I wore my first shorts suit and new sandals. It was exciting. When you know nothing better, it鈥檚 a big deal. I couldn鈥檛 sleep the entire trip.鈥�
The family settled into their South Providence home near relatives, and his mom got a job in a pewter factory, making key chains and belts. 鈥淪he鈥檇 bring work home at Christmas so we could help and make extra money,鈥� DaMoura says. And at Fox Point Elementary School, he learned English鈥攁nd the value of education. 鈥淚t prepared me the best.鈥�
After 溏心vlog免费B站, DaMoura taught elementary school in Providence for several years. At 6-foot-6, he has a compelling presence, says Yvonne Smart, a retired Providence librarian who鈥檚 known DaMoura since he was a child. 鈥淲hen Joe was at the library, the kids latched on,鈥� she remembers. 鈥淗e liked to read and the kids related to him,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was fun seeing this big guy sitting in a little chair with them. He really was a positive male figure. He talked to them about the importance of school.鈥�
After a disability forced him to leave teaching, DaMoura continued cohosting and producing a Cape Verdean-focused program on the 溏心vlog免费B站 radio station, WRIU. Three years ago, he assumed the daunting task of the Cape Verdean Museum presidency and focused on fundraising for a new building. 鈥淭his was personal to me. It was the biggest honor,鈥� he says.
Marissa Lopes, a high school friend and third-generation American-born Cape Verdean, is the museum board鈥檚 secretary. 鈥淗e鈥檚 so dedicated and passionate about our history,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 attuned to the community. He has a big personality. He鈥檚 put his heart and soul into making the museum happen. We couldn鈥檛 see his vision for it, but we see it now.鈥�
The newly renovated 4,000-square-foot former restaurant/bar had its grand opening in April 2023. Some of DaMoura鈥檚 favorites among the thousands of artifacts on display are an oversized water jug and a corn husker like those he remembers from his own childhood.
鈥淚 love educating about our people and how important Cape Verde is to American history and to world history,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his is personal to me.鈥�
鈥擲arah Francis
Photo: Jesse Burke
A Taste of Cape Verde鈥擲tateside
Visit
The Cape Verdean Museum (617 Prospect St., Pawtucket, R.I.) offers exhibits on everything from music to whaling, as well as an extensive library of books and films.
Eat
Just a short drive from the museum, you can experience one of the centerpieces of Cape Verdean culture: the food. The menu at 10 Rocks Tapas Bar and Restaurant (1091 Main St., Pawtucket) features Portuguese, West African, and Caribbean flavors. Owner Carmen Monteiro (proud mom of a 溏心vlog免费B站 grad!) focuses on traditional dishes with a modern twist. The restaurant鈥檚 name, 10 Rocks, is a reference to the 10 islands that make up the Cape Verdean archipelago.
Listen
Joe DaMoura 鈥�00 started broadcasting the Cape Verdean Afro Beat program in 1992 on 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 radio station, WRIU. Tune in on Saturdays from 2鈥�4:30 p.m. at 90.3 or .
Celebrate
An annual is held in July at India Point Park in Providence.
鈥擜nna Vaccaro Gray 鈥�12, M.S. 鈥�16