Zerui Depina

Published by caboverde on 09/26/202509/26/2025

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 in that house”, he recalls (Cabo Verde & a Música – Dicionário de Personagens).

At the age of 15, he moved to the U.S.A. He had already experience that allow him to join Frank de Pina as the bassist in the band, Arpa Sound.

Zerui also performed with Os Pecos Band, and later founded Netinhos di Vovó. With Ice Band he made his debut as a vocalist, recording the songs “Maria Madalena” and “Soul”, which received such positive feedback that he was encouraged to record a solo album. This materialized in 1996 with É si kê mundo.

Zerui Depina with Nho Djonzinho Alves and **Kim Alves**, 1976

Alongside his solo career, Zerui Depina is frequently invited to perform live with other artists, often playing the cavaquinho. He has accompanied performers such as Fantcha, Maria de Barros, Bana, Paulino Vieira, and the Angolan singer Bonga, among others.

While he initially worked outside of music, he eventually managed to live solely from his artistic career. He considers himself more of a live performer than a studio artist, yet he has contributed as a vocalist and instrumentalist to various recordings, including albus by Antero Simas and Bela Mendes.

After living in the U.S.A. for 30 years, Zerui Depina returned to Praia, Cabo Verde, where he works in hospitality industry. He continues to perform, collaborate with other artists, and record under his own name.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zerui created the project Abrasu Muzikal, promoting online concerts to raise financial support and help mitigate the challenges faced by many artists due to the closure of live music venues and the general contraction of the cultural and entertainment sector. For this act of solidarity, he was honored by the city of Brockton.