Cape Verde: the Atlantic Music Expo resounds for the first time in Mindelo
Audio 01:32
The Brazilian Ayom ignited the first evening of the Atlantic Music Expo under the "benevolent" gaze of Cesaria Evora © RFI / Guillaume Thibault
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Cape Verde is celebrating again.
After two years of pandemic, festivals are back on the archipelago, including the Atlantic Music Expo.
For the 8th edition, groups from all over the Atlantic arc of Cape Verde, Africa and Europe are gathered.
Advertising
Read more
With our special correspondent in Mindelo,
Guillaume Thibault
Rediscover the life of before, benevolence and the pleasure of dancing... The inhabitants came as a family to attend the first concerts while the technicians are still completing the installation of the stages.
But the organization of this 8th edition of
the Atlantic music Expo
was a struggle, considers the director general of the festival, Augusto Vega: “
It was hard to bring together the money and the sponsors.
But I'm happy, a lot of people came
.
For the first time,
the festival
takes place on two islands.
After São Vicente, the island of culture, the conferences and concerts will continue in Santiago next week.
In the front row, the mayor of Mindelo, Augusto César Lima Neves, recalls that his city is above all a cultural center of the archipelago.
The return of the event is therefore heart-warming.
“
São Vicente is the capital of culture so we don't start from scratch.
We had a calm period
with the pandemic
, but this is an event that is important for us, whether economically, but also for families
, ”says the mayor.
On stage, guitarist and producer Hernani Almeida, happy as a child, accompanies Jennifer Solidade.
He is also delighted to participate in this return of the festival.
"
We are really happy that things are back to normal and that we are living with the musicians again, as before
," he testifies.
For this opening of the Atlantic Music Expo, the first evening was lively, with in particular the thunderous Brazilian Ayom, who kept the crowd dancing until late at night.
It's art, mainly music, that has been able to keep me going, give me pleasure.
Ary Kueka, when music saves life
Guillaume Thibault
Ary Kueka took many years to find himself and it is thanks to music that he is fulfilled today.
© Guillaume Thibault / RFI
Karina Gomes, singer and activist from Guinea-Bissau
Singer Karina Gomes is also on the bill.
To the sound of the song "Speransa" (hope), the queen of the stage and "
ambient
" of the first category has always fought to protect the oppressed.
To support his speech and carry out actions, Karima Gomes created an organization in Guinea Bissau in 2015: "
I founded Miguilan or Minjderis di Guinea No Lanta, an organization of women who stood up to say
'no, that's enough, we must stop with the coups d'etat."
Because it is our children who pay.
»
Guinea-Bissau is in a very very complicated situation, we must continue to fight, she believes.
The people are wonderful, we have all the natural conditions, very competent people: as soon as we have politicians who have the will to move the country forward, it will work.
Singer Karina Gomes, from Guinea-Bissau, explains her commitment
Guillaume Thibault
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Green cap
Musics
Culture
Africa