Pedro do Nascimento Martins

Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, Mosteiros, Fogo Island, 1946

Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist (string instruments)

Having lived in the United States since 1973, Pepe Bana recorded his first album, Raiz de Djar Fogo, in 1984 in Portugal. He initially recorded under the name Pedro Martins and only a few years later acquired the nickname Pepe Bana, in reference to the veteran singer Bana, due to his deep, rich, and powerful voice.

His second album, released in 1986, was titled Ca tem bedjiça. After a fifteen-year break, he recorded Ternura, released in 2001, followed by Mimosa in 2010. Even though he went several years without recording solo albums, he continued performing at Cabo Verdean community events in the United States and participated in several other artists’ albums,  playing the cavaquinho, guitar, and violin, collaborating with Vuca Pinheiro and Luís Morais, among others.

Pepe Bana is also a composer. He has recorded his own compositions, and some of his songs have appeared on albums by Bana, Gardénia, and Tchicau, among others.

Songs

Mosteiro nha tentação; Paixan Fogo e Brava (co-written with Neves);

Discography

• Raiz de Djar Fogo, LP, independently released by the artist, Dorchester, 1984.
• Ca tem bedjiça, LP, independently released by the artist, Dorchester, 1986. 
• Ternura, CD, independently released, Dorchester, 2001.
• Mimosa, CD, independently released, Dorchester, 2010.
• Guest appearance on Saxophonia’s, 2014, an album by Adriano Santos.