They rise from the dust of pain, loss and chaos and are told in ‘Port’Inglês’, an album that has just been released and whose launch concert will take place on 30 November at Crazy Coqs in London. A deeply personal journey, stories of years of British presence in Cape Verde and the decolonisation struggle under Portugal.
Aashi Prime*
“Port’Inglês” is a celebration of Cape Verdean identity. Carmen Souza explores the origins of her diasporic identity through language and different voices from colonised Cape Verde.
She links the UK and Cape Verdean worlds, both connections close to her heart. Jazz waltzes freedom with traditional Cape Verdean rhythms such as funaná, contradança, morna and mazurka; as well as with English folk inspired sea shanty “Francis Drum” which portrays contradictory sides of English explorer, Francis Drake. Carmen Souza and long-time collaborator Theo Pascal’s two decade, matured original Lusophone/Cape Verdean sounds, symbolise the significant cultural exchange embodied within the album.
The collaboration of prominent jazz musicians from across the globe reinforces and celebrates this interconnectedness. Musicians include Elias Kacomanolis (Mozambique), Diogo Santos (Portugal), João Oliveira (Angola), Deschanel Gordon (UK), Zoe Pascal (UK/Portugal), Mark Kavuma (UK) and Gareth Lockrane (UK).
The curious thing about “Port’Inglês” –wich breaks chains, journeying beyond linguistic and cultural confines– is that it is released the same year Portugal celebrates 50 years of the Carnation Revolution, the military coup that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo government in 1974.
This movement paved the way for the end of Wars in colonial Africa and opened the door to Independence from Portugal. “Port’Inglês” celebrates and reclaims unheard Cape Verdean voices that shape identity today.
Carmen says that she drew inspiration from the tales told in Cape Verde to create this musical suite. Through her research for her master’s thesis, she sought to embody this historical period through music.
The album explores themes of cultural identity, resistance, colonialism and the ongoing struggle for decolonisation, highlighting the connection between Cape Verde and the UK. Inspiration came from popular tales, tales of the sea, and even sea shanties from British folk music.”
Carmen resided in the UK for 16 years, a country that nurtured her creativity. Her research reveals a bond she hadn’t yet realised between the UK and Cape Verde. The synchronicity of Charles Darwin sailing to Cape Verde from Woolwich Arsenal, the very London town she made home for four years, all the more symbolises this shared connection.
One of the songs, “Cais D’ Port’Inglês” portrays cultural assimilation through the sea waves during the British presence: “In the piers of these English ports/ There is richness/That the sea waves bring and take away…” And,the track “Moringue” reflects how different languages on the same land can create misinterpretation and missed connection between individuals.
Whereas, “Ariope” describes connection through the incorporation of English language into native Cape Verdean Creole and shaping a new identity. For example, “hurry up” becomes “ariope” – terms Carmen Souza heard from her parents and as part of her culture. The backdrop in “Ariope” of port workers addressed derogatorily gives insight into the abuse of power in Cape Verde.
“Port’Inglês” portrays different realities of this colonised period and suggests imprints left on future generations.
Composer Theo Pascal reflects: “Our priority was to allow each instrument’s acoustic ‘colours’ to shine through organically, without requiring extensive digital processing or effects. The use of analogue and other digital recording techniques is a nod to the historical nature of the stories we tell here, adding a layer of authenticity to the album.”
This album by Galileo Music Communication is supported by Arts Council England.
More information: Carmen Souza biography, International Tour dates, Theo Pascal, and Two Birds In A Tree Publicity
(Photos: Pixabay)
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