Utilizing an anthropological approach, this paper provides an intense and unified description of the dominant geographic, economic, political, historic, and social trends prevalent in Cape Verde. It serves as a quasi-explicit and exceptionally objective emphasis of the island's background, and the outgrowths evident in the status quo. The monograph analyzes the environment's impact on the present and future prosperity of the islands just off the coast of West Africa. Agricultural and economic practices function as causes of the female head of household phenomenon. Statistics and other diverse forms of data provide an extensive examination of the Cape Verdean population and emigration customs. The paper is divided into four sections: (1) the framework of the islands including geography, climate, socio-political history, population, language, and religion; (2) the economic structure of the islands discussing government, economy, female heads of household, emigration, and remittances; (3) the agricultural development of the islands including agricultural perspective, land reform, and a food crops research project; and (4) the educational and health system of the islands. The adult literacy rate is about 40 percent. The literacy program in Cape Verde is an ideological practice of cultural production and reproduction. Many educators argue that the vernacular, rather than the present Portuguese, must be utilized in these programs, if true emancipation from ignorance is the objective. The literacy program has led to the duplication of the colonialist, elitist mentality. Contains 53 references. (DK)