Attention to the Portuguese-language African music styles, or Lusophone. The term Lusophone is derived from Lusitania, a Roman province in the area where Portugal is now located. Lusophone refers to the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. These are the countries Angola, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique and the islands of Sao Tome, Principe and Cape Verde. Producer Cobie Ivens.
1 – A n A f r o – P o r t u g u e s e O d y s s e y
with thirteen artists from:
Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique,
and Central, South and West Africa.
CD. An Afro-Portuguese odyssey.
LABEL: Putumayo (2003), code: PUT 2042.
VIDEO
2 – L u r a
Lisbon-born Lura fully honours her Cape Verdean roots in her music. The renditions of the ‘queen of the morna’ Cesara Evora exuded melancholy, but Lura’s songs sparkle with an energetic zest for life. That is why she uses more uptempo Cape Verdean rhythms such as the funaná, batuque and tabanka. The fact that Lura herself was a dancer probably explains her very danceable albums. Her fourth album is called Herança, which means ‘inheritance’. Lura sings songs in Creole, accompanied by a modern band. Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos provides exciting background sounds for the title track. We also hear Lura together with Cameroonian jazz bassist and singer Richard Bona. Lura also gives space to a promising Cape Verdean talent, Elida Almeida. Together they sing a song written by Elida.
CD. Herança – Lura. LABEL: Lusafrica (2015), code: 762352-DG. VIDEO
3 – C a b o C u b a J a z z
The Dutch-based band Cabo Cuba Jazz consists of five top musicians who have built up excellent reputations independently of each other. The musicians with international roots (in Cape Verde, Germany, Aruba and Cuba) came together, took Cape Verdean songs as a basis and created songs through improvisation and arrangement in which various styles seem to merge effortlessly. The music of Cabo Cuba Jazz offers a warm bath of groovy swinging music with the occasional melancholic song. In addition to the sparkling lyrical voice of Dina Medina, guest singers such as Grace Evora and Alberto Caicedo provide the lead vocals on several occasions. An impressive list of twenty-one guest musicians contributed to Rikeza y Valor.
CD. Rikeza y valor – Cabo Cuba Jazz. LABEL: Walboomers Latina (2011), code: 8715197350426 + Matos, code: WBL077. VIDEO
4 – B o n g a
If there is one singer who can be identified with the African country Angola, it is Bonga. However, the singer did not live in his native country for a large part of his life. At the age of 23, he left for Portugal to focus on his sports career. He is still the Angolan record holder for the 400-meter run. He also sang, but the critical lyrics on his debut album caused Bonga to leave the Portugal of dictator Salazar. He lived in Rotterdam for a number of years. After the fall of Salazar and the independence of Angola, the singer lived alternately in Lisbon, Luanda and Paris. His unique style mixes local Angolan styles such as kizomba and semba with influences from West Africa, Brazil and Portugal.
CD. Best of – Bonga. LABEL: Lusafrica (2009), code: 562352. VIDEO
5 – M a r r a b e n t a M o z a m b i q u e
This album is a relatively broad snapshot of marrabenta music as performed by three generations of the genre’s stars. It is generally accepted that the term marrabenta refers to “the urban dance rhythms of Maputo and the areas surrounding it,” and that it is led by guitar and percussion. After listening to this album, it is difficult to reach a consensus on other elements of marrabenta. What is certain, however, is that the music is dynamic, having evolved from the days when it was very simple to play on instruments made from recycled, locally available materials.
CD. The Rough Guide to Marrabenta Mozambique. LABEL: World Music Network (2001), code: RGNET 1063 CD. VIDEO
6 – K a r y n a G o m e s
She comes from Guinea-Bissau, she has a Guinean father and a Cape Verdean mother, both in the resistance against the Portuguese colonizer. Her singing career started in 1997 with gospel music in Brazil, where she studied journalism. In 2014 she released her debut album ‘Mindjer’ (‘Woman’). The album is an ode to the Guinean women and all women from all over the world for their determination, strength and courage.
CD. Mindjer – Karyna Gomes. LABEL: Get! 02/2014. VIDEO
Producer Cobie Ivens
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