ocr: The majority of the population is Portuguese-African "mestiço;" the remainder is Largely African, descended either from slaves or from more recent immigrants from the mainland. The Creolization of - the culture has ledto a relative lack of ethnic tension, although there 1S some bad feeling between islands. African traditions ofthe extended family and the atholic Church have helpedto ensure the vitality of: family life. Women's role in public affairs is not prominent, in part due to the conservative Catholic influence.
