WOMAD

Carmen Souza

From Cape Verde, United Kingdom

Like Ireland, the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa have turned the sorrows and nostalgia of emigration and separation into a musical art form. The young Cape Verdean singer Carmen Souza has certainly experienced the emotions at the heart of Cape Verdean music. Her father worked the cargo ships and was absent from home for months on end during her youth. But when he returned he would regale little Carmen with songs on his guitar. She started singing in church at the age of 14 and later joined the only professional Lusophone Afro-Gospel choir. Recently Souza worked with composer and producer Theo Pas’cal to record her debut album Ess Ê Nha Cabo Verde which is a fine showcase of her unique take on the Creole traditions of Cape Verde. At this year’s WOMAD, Souza will give a rootsy acoustic presentation of her songs with the help of Theo Pas’cal, guitarist Danilo Silva and percussionist Mick Trovoada who hails from San Tomé. This is the music of longing, buoyed up on a gentle swell of guitars, rhythm and voice.