The Culture & Music of Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde is a nation that breathes music. From the aching melancholy of morna to the accordion-driven joy of funaná, this small archipelago has produced a remarkably rich musical world. Let the videos be your guide.
🎶Morna — the saudade of the Atlantic
Cabo Verde's signature genre. Over slow, lyrical melodies, morna sings of saudade — a bittersweet longing for absent loved ones and homeland. Often compared to Portuguese fado, it was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2019, and is traditionally played on clarinet, violin, guitar and cavaquinho.
👑Cesária Évora — the Barefoot Diva
The national singer (1941–2011) who brought Cabo Verde to the world. Known as the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes, she was born in Mindelo on São Vicente and won a Grammy. Her voice is a symbol of Cabo Verde itself.
🪘Beyond morna: a world of genres
Morna is only the beginning. Each island and region carries music with its own distinct character.
