Yesterday was Independence Day in the US. Here in Dakar, the reaction was a little…[yawn]…oh, yeah. Today, however, is Independence day in Cape Verde, an island nation west of Senegal. It’s where Paul’s family originated. It’s the influence for most of Mami’s cooking at our traditional Sunday gatherings.
Cape Verde was discovered by the Portuguese around 1460. Until then, it was uninhabited. The Portuguese colonized the islands and used them primarily as a shipping station for their slave trade. Like the Galapagos Islands, the Cape Verde islands were isolated, which has resulted in a number o endemic species, particularly bird and reptiles, many of which are endangered by human development. The Cape Verde Giant Gecko (Tarentola gigas) is one of those on the short list for extinction.
Independence came late, in 1975, so there are a lot of people around, including Mami and Papi, Paul’s parents, who remember when Cape Verde was a colony or a protectorate or whatever island “possessions” were called in 1975. So we’re celebrating tonight at the French Cultural Institute, where there is a concert of Cape Verdean music, which is a fusion of Portuguese, Caribbean, African, and Brazilian influences. Its national music is the morna, a melancholy, lyrical song typically sung in Cape Verdean Creole. Amongst the most worldwide known Cape Verdean singers is Cesaria Evora, whose songs are a hallmark of the country and its culture. And among those she influenced are Paul Thierry Oliveira…my Paul, as in Paul and Nathalie…who will be performing tonight.
I’ve only heard Paul in his studio. This will be a treat. Stay tuned. I’ll give you a reaction tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment