Music

Music is an essential cultural expression of the life of Cape Verdean communities, an integral part of family and social celebrations, and of the popular festivals held in each island, in tribute to the patron saints, such as Sao JSm, with drums beat to exhaustion to mark the festival of the solstice (June 24). String instruments are widely used, such as the guitar, the viola, the cavaquinho, or small guitar, and the violin; drums and other percussion instruments are also quite popular.

The musical forms are unique, each with its own characteristics. Morna music is the music of the sodade, or sense of nostalgia, of the Cape Verdeans spread across the world, of the destiny of those who want to stay but must leave; coladeira and funana, songs of humor, joy, and sensuality; tabanka, from the island of Santiago, is repetitive, with horns, drums, and cornets, played by women who play percussion on plastic sheets, bags, and bottles, beating their thighs, their legs, in a very African rhythm; pilMo, from the island of Fogo, in the nights leading up to the Festas da Bandeira (Festivals of the Flag), when the women H&grind the corn to prepare cherem, to the sound of chants, the beat 'of the drums and the rattle of tchabeta on the edge of the 'grinders; finaçon, of African origin, which goes back to the time of slavery; musical forms imported from Europe, such as the mazurka, contradance, canto da divina and, more recently, the new music, with many influences from abroad. Cesaria Evora, Bana Titina, Paulino Vieira, Dany Silva, Tiro Paris, Ramiro Mendes, Tubaroes, Finacon, Bulimundo, are among the best known Cape Verdean musicians.