Manuel d’Novas

Published by GN on 09/21/202309/21/2023

Manuel de Jesus Lopes

Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão, 1938 – Mindelo, São Vicente, 2009

Instrumentalist (string), composer

Manuel d’Novas is considered one of the greatest composers in Cape Verde, he is responsible for more than 120 compositions, most of those has successive reinterpretations. His lyrics show that he was an attentive observer of everyday life, with humor, sometimes irony, in small stories about the daily life of his town, with some social and political criticism.

His first recorded composition was “Serpentinha” by Bana, accompanied by Voz de Cabo Verde, in the 60’s. Besides his joyful koladeras, he also composed mornas and became known for both genres early on.

In an article published in 1973 by Presença Crioula (August/September 1973) and edited by Casa de Cabo Verde (predecessor of Associação Cabo-Verdiana, in Lisbon) he was presented as “author of lyrics and music of majority the most recent mornas and coladeiras’ hits”, having conquered “undeniable popularity between Cape Verdeans from all social classes, over the world”. “Some of the phrases he used on his coladeiras, became common and were used in the creole language with a special satirical sense, characteristic of mindelense vocabulary” we can read on the text.

” I go everywhere, Ribeira da Craquinha, Vila Nova, I drink groguinho with the guys, and it’s when we drink and get inspired. My ears are like radars, they capture. If I find something interesting, I write it down on my notepad and work on it after.
Manuel d’Novas in an interview to Novo Jornal Cabo Verde, 07.12.1997

Manuel d’Novas and Jack Monteiro. Photo courtesy of Jack Monteiro

In his 20’s, while working in the Novas de Alegria ship, that made the Mindelo-Dacar connection, he learns how to play the guitar with coworkers and later starts composing. His first song was “Pinote na vapor” about a theme that was very present at that time that is connected to ships: the clandestine escape on a vessel passing through São Vicente.

After those first years in the ship where he received a nickname that stayed for life, the first time he embarked on a long journey was in a Liberian boat in 1964. Toured the American continent almost North to South, contacting in this trip with the Latin-American music. In a succession of ships and voyages he lived about one decade at sea.

Statue honors Manuel de Novas in the city of Mindelo

In 1975, he arrives in Cabo Verde, takes a course at the Nautical School and stays as a bar pilot for two years. In 1977 boards again to return in 1985 for good. Worked as a shipyard pilot in Mindelo until he retired.

In 2010 by initiative of the productor Alberto Rui Machado, is edited the CD Homenagem a Manuel d’Novas, a compilation of Manuel d’Novas compositions recorded by several artists.

Neu Lopes, composer’s son, made the documentary Manuel d’Novas – Coração de Poeta (2019), on his life and work.

Discography

Rufux Scacarex/Nos raça, EP, Discos Monte Cara, Lisbon, 1985 (“Rufux Scacarex” participation in the compilation Seleção de Cabo Verde 80, 1980).
Hoje é Natal/Novo ano, EP, author’s edition, São Vicente, 1985 (“Hoje é Natal” participation in the CD compilation Rakordai, 1993).

Songs

Amigo Amiga; Apocalipse; Armon; Armon; Av. Marginal; Balói; Baloi Bedje; Barbincor; Biografia dum Crioulo; Bitina; Bo ca Tava pa Sementera; Bô Kkê Naiss; Bô Voz Mavioso; Cabe Verde Mandá Mantenha; Cabel Tchumscode; Calibra bô steam; Camin de Maderalzim; Canção di Regresso; Casinha Branca; Charmosa; Cigana de curpin ligante; Cinco de Julho; Cmê Catchor; Contraste; Contratempo; Coração d´um Poeta; Corpim Sabe; Crioula; Cumpade Ciznone; Curti Geada; D. Ana; Direito di Nasce; Diva de Pé Nu; Divórcio Um Ca Ta Sena; Dôs atributo; Ess País; Falá na Sone; Fantasia di Nha Sonho; Fidjos de Adão e Eva; Gardénia; Gote Pintode; Guintche Bo Ca É; Happy Cave; Hoje é Natal; Holanda e d´Holandes; Holandeza; Jóia di Nha Vida; Jom d´Ebra; L´Or d´Oi Azul; Lamento de um Emigrante; Lena; Lisboeta; Lixo Industrial; Lôr d´Oi Azul; Lucy; Lutchinha; Mané Gaida; Mi Bem di Longe; Mi bem di Longi; Mister di Cretcheu; Mistério de Castanheta; Morte d´Um Tchuk; Mosca Estronhe; Natal; Neuza; Nha Coraçon Tchora; Nha Regresso; Nha Visão; Nhu; Nos Morna; Nos Paraiso; Nos Raça; Nôs Romance; Note Tropical; Novo Ano; Oitenta Melodioso; Paraíso di Atlântico; Pinote na Vapor; Ponta de Fi; Porto Novo (vila crioula); Praga Maldite; Professorinha; Querida; Rambóia; Resposta d´Guintche; Resposta Minininhas de Monte Sossego; Rosie; Rufux scacarex; Sabor de Pecado; Salta parede; Saragarça; Sardinha; Scapinha; Sema; Serpentinha; So Bo So; Sodade d´Nho Roque; Sodade de Mundo; Sombra de Destino; Sonho d´um Criôl; Sono profundo; Sonte e Bo Nome; Stranger e Uma Ilusão; Talianinha; Tchal kêt; Tchal Kêt; Tchom Frio; Travessa di Pexera; Tributo final; Tudo Dia e Dia; Tudo Tem se Limite; Um Oya Un Estrela; V´ra Tchiefe/Vra Tchif; Vent d´Sueste; Verdianinha; Vida Tem Um So Vida; Viva Mindelo.