It is likely you will be approached by people in the main tourist area or larger towns and cities that are selling pictures, beads, watches, bracelets, glasses etc. These sellers are not generally Cape Verdean people.

In the non-tourist or less tourist areas, there may not be any or only a few people approaching you to buy goods. Some will be situated at tourist attractions or a specific refreshment places you are expected to stop at during an island tour.  

Street sellers will try and engage you by asking if you are German, Dutch, Italian or English etc, or tell you it's free to come and see, cheaper than Asda, cheap as chips or some other well known terminology in other languages that you may be familiar with in your country. Some will have little stalls, others some shops or are individuals who walk around the streets carrying items they have for sale.

If you are really concerned, it's best not to engage in conversation as it’s sometimes hard to get rid of them if you do. A firm ‘No’ and a hand wave to show you aren’t interested almost always works, keep on walking and ignore them, don't engage in more small talk, otherwise you may have a friend for the rest of your stay if you promise them you will come back another day.

There are others that may address you as 'mate' (or something else), asking you why you haven't come back to buy off them, even when you have never seen them before, once you stop and think whether you have met them, that's part of the tactic to get you to stop, then he/she will ask you to 'come look at my shop'. Another may say you spoke to him at your hotel, think on, that wrist band you are waring is a dead giveaway! There are many more ways they will try to grab your attention.

The one chap I have known selling must have got at least 50 kids by now after hearing him say he has a new born child, over the last 10yrs, yes your brains are calculating 9 month periods, but out here men are not always faithful to one woman, but that's beside the point, am sure I will hear him use the sympathy tactic on other unsuspecting tourists over the next 10yrs or more :)

Some tourists don't mind being engaged in conversation or in being tempted to buy, so it's not all bad for everyone. Many people may be more experienced or have the time to decide whether they want or don't need to buy an imported African statue or a pair of original ray-ban sunglasses! Others will enjoy the experience, but then just walk off without buying anything. 

......Things are generally improving as the Police are more active on the streets and in their control of people trying to impose themselves on tourists to sell them their goods.

This is just to forewarn you. Please don't let any of the above put you off going into the tourist areas. Shops, tour operators, businesses, restaurant owners , their employees and all those living on the islands, locals and expats, want you to come and enjoy the islands and experience more of what there is available or they want to offer, they need you, but won't impose on you!