Baía das Gatas

The Baía das Gatas Festival takes place every August, on the full-moon weekend, in the village and bay of the same name on São Vicente island, Cabo Verde. Founded in 1984 and organised by the island's local government, it is the country's most popular music festival, nicknamed the 'Woodstock of Africa'; unusually for a major festival, entry is free. Three days of concerts run alongside horse racing, water sports and other festivities, giving it a distinctly communal, homegrown atmosphere rooted in Cabo Verdean music.