Almerinda Alves

Almerinda Alves grew up on the island of São Nicolau, where she absorbed the traditional rhythms of Cape Verdean music. Her 1996 album 'O Guardião' featured the title track, a ballad with lyrics by poet Eugénio Tavares that became something of a standard. Songs like 'Cuida de Mim Jesus' and 'Puro Amor' show her working within the morna tradition, a style built around soulful, melodic vocals.

She recorded several albums over the following decades, including 'Sila Mora' in 1999 and 'Criolinha' in 2011. Her music draws from Cape Verdean forms like morna and batuque, though she's sometimes described as blending these with contemporary influences. The nickname 'the Guardian of Cape Verdean Music' stuck after that first album, suggesting a role in preserving those traditions.

Alves has performed internationally, and her work with musicians like guitarist Manuel de Candinho helped shape her sound. While her early career faced some skepticism about Cape Verdean music's reach, she kept recording and touring. Later albums like 'Sons d'África' (2015) and 'Azul' (2019) continued her exploration of these musical roots.