Group, 1980 – ? Ramiro Mendes and João Mendes left the island of Fogo in 1978, heading to the USA, where their parents and older brother were. Soon after, they formed a band with the latter, Otílio, to play Cape Verdean and Angolan music, as João Mendes mentions on the Read more
Maria de Barros Dacar, Senegal, 1961 Singer, songwriter Maria de Barros, descendant of parents from Brava, was born in Senegal, spent her childhood in Mauritania, where she went at six months old, and at the age of 13 she left for the USA with her family, and has lived there Read more
Quirino do Canto Galinheiro, São Filipe, Ilha do Fogo, 1950 Singer Quirino do Canto left the Fogo Island at an early age to study in São Vicente. From the island he went to the USA in 1963, where he completed high school and university, graduating in engineering, a profession he Read more
Maria da Conceição Rosa Fonseca Fragoso Santa Maria, Island of Sal, 1950s Singer The singer Sãozinha Fonseca, residing in Boston, USA since 1976, emerged in the Cape Verdean music scene after winning the competition ‘Todo o Mundo Canta’ in 1985, representing the Cape Verdean community in the United States. The Read more
Amandio Cabral Ribeira Brava, São Nicolau, 1935 Singer, Songwriter Amândio Cabral comes from a family of musicians, where his father and uncles played several instruments. Living in São Vicente at the end of the 1950s, he was one of the pioneers in the discography produced in Cape Verde, recording two Read more
Luís Ramos Morais Mindelo, São Vicente, 1935 – New Bedford, EUA, 2002 Instrumentalist (winds), composer, arranger, conductor, teacher Luís Morais is remembered year after year for “Boas festas”, a traditional New Year’s Eve song he arranged and recorded – one of Cabo Verde’s most iconic musical successes. He was an Read more
Jorge Alberto Job Mindelo, São Vicente, 1964 Instrumentalist (guitar, bass), songwriter, singer, musical producer Djim Djob is frequently present as a songwriter in the repertoires of Cape Verdean artists who began recording in the late 1990s, but also in the work of veteran Bana for whom he produced two albums. Read more
Carlos Alberto Monteiro Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, 1964 Instrumentalist (drums), songwriter, arranger, music producer A highly sought-after composer from the late 1990s onwards, Kalú Monteiro appears on albums of various artists, some of them with several compositions . He wrote “El é Sebim”, a great success in the voice Read more
José Rui Alves de Pina Praia, 1968 Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist (strings) Born in a family of musicians, Zerui began learning music with his uncle, Nho Djonzinho Alves (see the group Pai e Filhos), starting with the rattle and later string instruments, alongside his cousins. ‘We had something like a school Read more
Adriano Gonçalves Mindelo, São Vicente, 1932 – Lisbon, 2013 Singer, music publisher Bana, considered “the greatest interpreter of morna and coladeira” – genres to which he dedicated his more than 50 years career – is among the Cabo Verdean artists with the most extensive discographies. He was a true giant Read more