An Angel of Sorrow Sings

December 15, 2024
2 mins read

THE BREATHTAKING VOICE OF CESARIO EVORA

Saturday/Sunday, February 3, 2008.

By Kalamu ya Salaam of Kalamu.com

“Morna is like the blues because it is a way to express life’s suffering in music.”

Born on August 27, 1941, in the small port of Mindelo on the beautiful Cape Verde island of Sao Vicente, Cesario Evora is an internationally-lauded folk hero of the small collection of islands that comprise Cape Verde. Although she has recorded in France and in Cuba, her music remains firmly rooted in the culture of Lusophone in West Africa.

According to official government figures, the population is estimated at 423,613 but slightly more than a half million Cape Verdeans live outside of Cape Verde—it really is a diasporan country.

Much like parts of South Africa, there is a claim by Europeans that the islands were uninhabited when the invaders arrived. The population is mostly creoles (mainly African/Portuguese, 71%) with about a quarter of the population native African (28%) and an extremely small percentage 1%) of Portuguese and other Europeans.

The language is Portuguese-based Creole, the style of music is “morna,” “coladeras,” and other traditional rhythms and genres, but Cape Verdean’s “sodade” evokes the familiar sadness that is the blues.

Cesarie is the master of “morna.” If she were to sing “Happy Birthday” , it could make you cry, thinking about all of the suffering you have seen in life and simultaneously encourage you to wipe away the tears and go on living – after all suffering is a given, happiness is the thing we must struggle to grasp.

Cesaria comes by her morna legitimately; her father died when she was seven and she spent time in an orphanage where she first learned to sing in the choir. Cesaria sang in bars and hotels, eventually becoming well known in the islands but without attracting any international attention. After knocking around for a number of years, Ms. Evora gave up singing for ten years.

Through the intercession of Bana, a fellow Cape Verdean who was in exile in Portugal, arrangements were made for her to perform at the invitation of a women’s organization. Subsequently she received an invitation from Jose Da Silva to record in Paris.

The result was La Diva aux Pieds Nus (The Barefoot Diva) in 1988, an album that garnered critical acclaim. The 1992 album Miss Perfumado brought Cesaria international touring, awards and a revived recording career.

What I find most amazing is how inventive Cesaria is in using traditional West African music. Although there is a remix album of some of her major songs, her heart-felt, acoustically accompanied songs are simultaneously elegant and elegiac, mournful and hopeful, melancholy and uplifting.

The opening track, “Africa Nossa,” is a joyful celebration of our tormented motherland. The feet that yesterday were shackled, today dance into the future.

Whether singing traditional songs composed by major Cape Verdean songwriters or re-interpreting standards from across the sea (“Besame Mucho”), Cesaria Evora is sure footed and steady, offering us deeply rooted intonations.

The featured track, “Negue,” a duet with Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes, exemplifies the artistry and deep feeling of this aged angel of sorrow songs.

Kalamu ya Salaam is a New Orleans-based writer and filmmaker. He is also the founder of Nommo Literary Society – a Black writers workshop.

Please e-mail comments to comments@thenewblackmagazine.com

P.S. These selections are drawn from eight different albums. My recommendation is a double-CD best of compilation: Anthologie: Mornas & Coladeras [IMPORT]. This covers the years 1988 to 2001. After that let your ears be your guide.

383 Comments

  1. What i do not understood is actually how you are not really much more neatly-appreciated than you may be now. You’re very intelligent. You recognize therefore significantly in the case of this topic, made me in my opinion believe it from so many numerous angles. Its like women and men are not interested until it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. Always maintain it up!

  2. What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help different customers like its aided me. Good job.

  3. It¡¦s really a great and helpful piece of information. I¡¦m satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog frommy new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love readingthrough your blog and look forward to all your posts!Carry on the excellent work!

  5. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Kudos!

  6. Excellent way of explaining, and nice article to obtain facts concerning mypresentation subject, which i am going to deliver in institution of highereducation.

  7. boys vests 2 womens down jackets parkas industrial scientific equipment covers drapes industrial scientific radiation protection supplies industrial scientific cones home kitchen cleavers almahde

  8. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog.It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to comehere and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to createyour theme? Outstanding work!

  9. Your style is really unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this blog.

  10. Hello, yup this post is genuinely nice and I have learned lotof things from it on the topic of blogging. thanks.Feel free to visit my blog post Keto Premium One Shot Review

  11. Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit yet again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  12. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

  13. I read this piece of writing fully on the topic of the differenceof latest and preceding technologies, it’s amazing article.

  14. What i do not realize is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You realize thus significantly relating to this subject, produced me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always maintain it up!

  15. It is really a great and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  16. Hey are using WordPress for your blog platform?I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and createmy own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  17. I really like your writing style, superb information, regards for posting :D. “God save me from my friends. I can protect myself from my enemies.” by Claude Louis Hector de Villars.

  18. I will immediately take hold of your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  19. After I originally commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there a way you can remove me from that service? Many thanks!

  20. Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you

  21. Hi! I’ve been following your blog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent work!

  22. I do believe all the ideas you have introduced in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

  23. I discovered your blog web site on google and examine a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Searching for forward to reading extra from you later on!…

  24. great submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector don’t understand this. You must proceed your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!

  25. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am having troubles with your RSS. I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  26. Could the Acer Iconia W4 change the opinion belonging to the technology world? Usually you would put a keypad on exit/entry point such as working on my door or back of the of doors. Well one of the big things is 4G compatibility.

  27. Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for information approximately thissubject for a long time and yours is the greatest I have came upon so far.But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you certain in regards tothe source?

  28. What’s up, the whole thing is going well here and ofcourseevery one is sharing data, that’s in fact fine, keep up writing.

  29. I am not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.

  30. I like this post, enjoyed this one thank you for putting up. “What is a thousand years Time is short for one who thinks, endless for one who yearns.” by Alain.

  31. I do consider all of the ideas you have presented for your post.They’re really convincing and can definitely work.Still, the posts are very brief for novices. Could you please lengthen them a bit from next time?Thank you for the post.

  32. Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to create a really good article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.

  33. I do not even understand how I finished up right here, however I thought this publish was good. I don’t recognise who you might be but certainly you’re going to a well-known blogger if you are not already. Cheers!

  34. Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Thanks!

  35. An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to publish more on this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t discuss such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!

  36. We are looking for experienced people that might be interested in from working their home on a part-time basis. If you want to earn $100 a day, and you don’t mind developing some short opinions up, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

  37. We are looking for some people that might be interested in from working their home on a full-time basis. If you want to earn $100 a day, and you don’t mind creating some short opinions up, this might be perfect opportunity for you!

  38. – На свете не было, нет и не будет никогда более великой и прекрасной для людей власти, чем власть императора Тиверия! – сорванный и больной голос Пилата разросся. разработка веб сервисов И на всем его трудном пути невыразимо почему-то мучил вездесущий оркестр, под аккомпанемент которого тяжелый бас пел о своей любви к Татьяне.

  39. – Это можно выразить короче, одним словом – бродяга, – сказал прокуратор и спросил: – Родные есть? – Нет никого. переделать сторону открывания пластикового окна Так что вы уж сами узнайте это у него, Иван Николаевич! – Откуда вы знаете, как меня зовут? – Помилуйте, Иван Николаевич, кто же вас не знает? – здесь иностранец вытащил из кармана вчерашний номер «Литературной газеты», и Иван Николаевич увидел на первой же странице свое изображение, а под ним свои собственные стихи.

  40. Кто-то суетился, кричал, что необходимо сейчас же, тут же, не сходя с места, составить какую-то коллективную телеграмму и немедленно послать ее. паспорт перевод на русский узбекский Вот этого самого незнакомца в берете, воля ваша, Степа в своем кабинете вчера никак не видал.

  41. – Может быть, вы знаете, какой именно, – с совершенно естественной иронией осведомился Берлиоз, вовлекаясь в какой-то действительно нелепый разговор, – и скажете мне? – Охотно, – отозвался незнакомец. нотариус Трубникова Положение Степы было щекотливое: во-первых, иностранец мог обидеться на то, что Степа проверяет его после того, как был показан контракт, да и с финдиректором говорить было чрезвычайно трудно.

  42. – Так помолись ему! Покрепче помолись! Впрочем… – тут голос Пилата сел, – это не поможет. нотариус метро Зябликово Он тотчас постарался ее объяснить, и объяснение было странное: показалось смутно прокуратору, что он чего-то не договорил с осужденным, а может быть, чего-то не дослушал.

  43. И сейчас же с площадки сада под колонны на балкон двое легионеров ввели и поставили перед креслом прокуратора человека лет двадцати семи. Крышки багажника Как ни был расстроен Иван, все же его поражала та сверхъестественная скорость, с которой происходила погоня.

  44. An interesting discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people do not talk about such issues. To the next! Kind regards!!

  45. I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..

  46. Very nice info and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to hire some professional writers? Thanks 🙂

  47. I will immediately take hold of your rss as I can’t find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.Do you have any? Please allow me realize so thatI may just subscribe. Thanks.

  48. Very good written article. It will be beneficial to everyone who usess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – looking forward to more posts.

Leave a Reply to 佳文网 Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

Brilliantly British

Next Story

Play That Funky Music, White Boy!

Latest from Blog