Violinist Ivo Pires glides his bow across the strings of his violin while playing traditional songs of Cape Verde with his band Sunday afternoon at the Cape Verdean Museum, in East Providence.

The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

EAST PROVIDENCE

It was exactly it’s name, “Tardi Kultural.”

In English, the Cape Verde phrase means “culture in the afternoon.”

Traditional music, poetry and art from the small republic off the coast of West Africa were featured and celebrated Sunday at the Cape Verdean Museum Exhibit on Waterman Avenue. The outdoor event was free to the public.

While indoors, visitors viewed maps dating to the 1600s, items from the Cape Verde islands and pictures of early immigrants. They and their descendants have lived in New England for more than 200 years, making significant contributions to the whaling and cranberry industries.

Museum volunteers also say the exhibit has one of the largest collections of Cape Verdean books in the country. There are also films within the exhibit and newsletters from the early 1970s that detail the country’s struggle for independence.

The museum, at 1003 Waterman Ave., is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Arrangements may be made for groups of 10 or more by calling 228-7292 or e-mailing museum officials at info@cvmuseum.org. The exhibit’s Web site is www.capeverdeanmuseum.org.