About the Project
Project: “Voices of Cabo Verde – Memories in Sound and Image”
1. Executive Summary
This project aims to document, in audiovisual format, the trajectories of Cape Verdean musicians — both established and emerging — through biographical videos that record their stories, influences, creative processes, and contributions to national culture. The initiative seeks to preserve the country’s musical memory, promote its intangible heritage, and give visibility to voices that have shaped (and continue to shape) Cape Verde’s sonic identity.
2. Justification
Music is one of the fundamental pillars of Cape Verdean cultural identity. Genres such as morna, funaná, coladeira, and batuco carry centuries of history, resilience, and creativity. However, many of their protagonists — especially the older generations — risk disappearing without their memories, knowledge, and experiences being properly recorded. Despite the country’s rich musical heritage, there is a scarcity of professional, accessible audiovisual documentation centered on the artists themselves. This project therefore emerges as an urgent response to the need for preservation, valorization, and dissemination of this intangible heritage — with educational, touristic, and international projection potential for Cape Verdean culture.
3. Objectives
Specific Objectives:
- Interview and film musicians from different islands and musical genres;
- Produce videos with an average duration of 3 to 5 minutes;
- Make the videos freely available on a dedicated website and through partnerships with cultural institutions;
- Create a digital archive accessible to schools, researchers, and the general public.
4. Methodology
- Research and artist selection: Based on criteria of regional, generational, gender, and musical representativeness.
- Logistical planning: Scheduling interviews and organizing travel to islands and the diaspora.
- Audiovisual recording: Filming interviews and testimonies.
- Editing and post-production: Assembly, color correction, audio mixing.
- Dissemination and launch: Online publication, distribution to cultural institutions, local event screenings, and social media promotion.
Vision
To make the stories of Cape Verdean musicians accessible to all generations, both within and outside the country, strengthening cultural pride and inspiring new artists.
Who Is Behind It
This project is led by Humberto Ramos, an enthusiast of Cape Verdean culture, with experience in documentary production and strong ties to the archipelago’s artistic communities.
Contribute
We invite institutions, patrons, and culture lovers to support this initiative. Together, we can preserve the voices that sing the soul of Cape Verde.