Blog Country 132 - Cape Verde

 

Not content with qualifying for the World Cup the good people of Cape Verde have something else to celebrate as they become the 132nd Country to visit CCM since I started recording my visitors.

As always when it is an African country, as it is more often than not these days, I have tried to avoid treading on Ernie's toes from when he gave us his Odyssey. I think I have managed to come up with five different artists but probably not of the same quality.

Let's start with Fantcha who sings in the traditional Morna style. Google describes Morna as a soulful melancholic mUsic and dance genre from Cape Verde recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, blending African rhythms with Portuguese melodies, often featuring instruments like guitar, violin, and cavaquinho to express themes of love, loss, and longing for home.Her song today is Sol Ja Camba.

Next up is Finaçon a band who were active in the 80s and 90s and who often performed in the accordian based Funaná genre. Here they give us Kem Ki Bem, Ki Ta Bai

Lura is a Portuguese singer and musician of Cape Verdean descent whose compositions are based on traditional Cape Verdan music. There is maybe an argument that she doesn't therefore "count" but I can't be bothered replacing her. Here she sings  Sábi di Más which George will tell you translates as Have a Great Time.

Tcheka is a Cape Verdean singer, songwriter and guitarist, who is well known for his work in transposing the traditional genre batuque  to the electro-acoustic guitar. But you probably knew that already.Here he performs Djuana

Last, but by no means least, we have  Teófilo Chantre who was most active in the 1980s Here he sings Tu Verrais whch even I can work out means You See.

Yet another African country next but a much bigger one which hopefully will give us plenty of choices to share.

Fantcha - Sol Ja Camba

Finacon - Kemi Ki Bem, Ki Ta Bai

Lura - Sabi Di Mas

Tcheka - Djuana

Teofilo Chantre - Tu Verrais