How old English sea shanties inspired Cape Verdean singer

Carmen Souza, a gifted musician from Cape Verde, has a fascinating story that connects her to the rich history of her homeland. As a child, she often heard her family tell her to 'ariope' when she took too long to get ready for school or family events. It was only later that she discovered that this Creole word was derived from the English phrase 'hurry up'. Carmen reflects on how many words in Cape Verdean Creole have roots in British English, such as 'salong' meaning 'so long' and 'fulespide' meaning 'full speed'. These words evoke memories of her childhood and her father's encouragement to pick up the pace. Now, Carmen has released a new album titled Port'Inglês, which translates to 'English port'. This album is a tribute to the often-overlooked history of British influence in Cape Verde, which has lasted for over 120 years. Carmen's journey into this project began as part of her master's degree research, where she sought to understand the musical impact of this historical connection. She believes that music is an integral part of Cape Verdean culture, often referred to as their greatest export. During her research, Carmen found that there are very few recordings from the time of British presence in Cape Verde. However, she discovered that an American ethnomusicologist named Helen Heffron Roberts recorded some music in the 1930s, but these recordings are fragile and can only be accessed at Yale University in the United States. Rather than simply rearranging old songs, Carmen and her musical partner Theo Pas'cal decided to create new music inspired by the stories they uncovered. They blended jazz with traditional Cape Verdean rhythms, such as funaná, which is played using an iron rod and a knife, and batuque, a style performed by women that is rooted in African drumming traditions. The port of Mindelo in São Vicente became a crucial refueling stop for ships traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape Verdean islands, located about 500 kilometers off the coast of West Africa, are mostly dry and have limited farmland. Historically, they were first controlled by the Portuguese, who traded goods like spices and silk. After the abolition of the slave trade, Cape Verde faced economic decline. The islands remained a Portuguese colony until 1975, but during the 18th and 19th centuries, British merchants settled there, revitalizing the region as a bustling trading hub. The British were attracted to Cape Verde for its cheap labor and resources like salt and turtles. They constructed roads and developed the natural ports, which became known as Port'Inglês. Mindelo port emerged as a vital refueling station for steamships and a significant global communication center with the establishment of a submarine cable station in 1875. Carmen's exploration of the British presence in Cape Verde took on a personal dimension when she learned that her grandfather had worked loading coal onto ships in Mindelo. This connection inspired her to write the song 'Ariope', which tells the story of an older man urging a younger man to hurry up because the British ships are approaching. Carmen's grandfather was a fiddler and a renowned storyteller, and she imagines his spirit guiding her music. Although she was born in Portugal, Carmen now resides in London, and many Cape Verdeans live abroad due to historical factors such as famine and lack of opportunities. This migration has contributed to the islands' vibrant musical traditions, including the melancholic morna, which gained international fame through singer Cesária Évora. Carmen's research also revealed that a prominent composer named Francisco Beleza, known as B Léza, viewed the British presence as more advantageous than the Portuguese for middle-class Cape Verdeans. He even composed a song to support the British during World War II. Carmen discovered that ports served as important hubs for musicians who learned new music from visiting sailors and blended it with Cape Verdean styles. Despite the scarcity of early written records of Cape Verdean music, Carmen is committed to revitalizing traditional genres. She incorporates various elements, such as improvisation and jazz harmonization, into her music, creating a unique sound that reflects her heritage. Carmen also stumbled upon a diary entry from Charles Darwin, who visited Cape Verde in 1832. In his writings, he described encountering a group of young women singing energetically, which Carmen believes was an early performance of batuque. Inspired by this historical connection, she wrote the song 'Sant Jago'. Unfortunately, many younger musicians in Cape Verde do not engage with older rhythms, and some are slowly fading away. Carmen hopes that her album Port'Inglês will inspire the younger generation to explore new ways to connect with traditional music. The album is set to be released through Galileo MC, and Carmen is excited to share her musical journey with the world.