Maruka Tavares

Lourenço Fernandes Silva Tavares Tarrafal, Santiago, 1966 Singer, songwriter Maruka, who sometimes identifies himself as Maruka Xica, was the creator of the Tarraf’all stars project in 2005, which involved artists from Tarrafal de Santiago such as Mário Lúcio, Princezito, Chando Graciosa, and Beto Dias, as well as lesser-known names. The Read more

Humbertona

Humberto Bettencourt dos Santos Chã de Manuelim, Paul/Porto Novo, Santo Antão, 1940 – Mindelo, São Vicente, 2023 Instrumentalist (guitar) Considered one of the leading guitar soloists in Cabo Verde, all of his solo recordings were produced between 1966 and 1971, when he was studiyng at the University of Louvain in Read more

Djunga de Biluca

João Silva Songwriter, producer, editor Mindelo, São Vicente, 1929 – Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2023 Djunga de Biluca was a pioneer in Cape Verdean emigration to Europe, a militant in the struggle for Independence, and the founder of Morabeza Records, which released 40 LPs and more than a dozen EPs in the Read more

Voz de Cabo Verde (III)

Group, 2002-2003 In 2002, the II Congress of Cape Verdean Cadres In the Diaspora (a periodic meeting organized by Cape Verdean emigrants) decided to pay tribute to the group Voz de Cabo Verde (I) by momentarily bringing together its members in the archipelago. The original lineup was nearly complete, with Read more

Voz de Cabo Verde (II)

Group, 1972-1985 “So Bana said: ‘We’re not going to end, we’re going to get back together’. At that time, Bana had financial backing, so he started looking for another Voz de Cabo Verde”, says Luís Morais (Cabo Verde e a Música – Dicionário de Personagens). Luís Morais and Frank Cavaquinho were the Read more

Voz de Cabo Verde (I)

Group, 1965-1970 Voz de Cabo Verde became famous in the 1960s and continued to evolve for the next 30 years. Based on electric instruments, its initial members included Luís Morais (clarinet, saxofone, and flute), Morgadinho (trumpet), Toy d’Bibia (guitar), Jean da Lomba (bass) and Frank Cavaquinho (drums). Frank, who had already been in the Netherlands since 1964 and Read more

Morgadinho

Joaquim Soares de Almeida Praia Branca, São Nicolau, 1931 Instrumentalist (winds, bass), singer, songwriter A member of Voz de Cabo Verde in its original formation and again in the 2000s, Morgadinho has released one solo album. He has also collaborated with various artists on recordings and has several compositions to Read more

Ildo Lobo

Ildo Neves de Sousa Lobo Sal, 1953 – Praia, Santiago, 2004 Singer, songwriter Owner of a sonorous, open, and powerful voice, Ildo Lobo was already one of the most acclaimed artists among the Cabo Verdean public long before starting his solo career. From the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, as a Read more

Rappers sing Cabral

It’s often noted that Cabral’s legacy is at risk of fading among younger generations born in independent Cabo Verde. However, there are those committed in preserving his memory alive and condemning injustices Cabral would have fought against. Rap music has become a vehicle not only for expressing strong messages but Read more