José Afonso

José Afonso, often called Zeca Afonso, was a Portuguese folk singer-songwriter born in Aveiro in 1929. He spent part of his youth in Mozambique, where he absorbed African rhythms that later colored his music.

His 1964 album 'Baladas e Canções' included 'Grândola, Vila Morena,' which became an anthem during the 1974 revolution. The regime censored his work, banning it from state media, but he kept writing. Songs like 'Balada Do Outono' and 'Cantares de Andarilho' from his catalog blend traditional Portuguese folk with subtle political commentary.

Afonso recorded steadily through the 1970s and early 1980s, with albums such as 'Contos Velhos, Rumos Novos' and 'Como Se Fora Um Grito.' He died in 1987. His music remains a reference point in Portuguese culture, not as grand protest anthems but as quietly persistent folk songs that spoke to ordinary life under pressure.