Traditional Music and Dance of the Cape Verde Islands

featuring
Ederlindo & Maria Tavares

The Cape Verde Island were sighted by the Portuguese in 1456, by the end of the fifteenth century. Located 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, the Cape Verde Island became a navigational pivot. Cape Verde gained its independent from Portugal in 1975. Cape Verdeans trace their origins to the Portuguese settlers who intermingled with people brought from the West African mainland. America's more than 350.000 Cape Verdeans probably make up the largest single group of Americans who can trace their roots directly to Africa.

Ederlindo Tavares
Ederlindo Tavares was born on Cabo Verde Island and came to the US bringing with him the ferinho or metal rasp and the musical traditions which he inherited from his family. An accomplished percussionist whose repertoire includes the traditional Cape Verde Funana, Batuku, Tabanka, Morna and Coladera.

Maria Tavares
Veteran Afro-Cape Verdean dance instructor, Maria Tavares, has been dancing, strongly rooted in her West African/Cape Verdean heritage for her entire life.

In Cape Verde she performed with various groups, and through this contact with the music, Maria became very aware of her African-Cape Verdean origins and cultural connections. In New England she has performed with RhumbAfrica and many other African artists. Maria brings a lifetime of love and expertise to her community, which has long awaited the contributions of its African population. In Cape Verde she performed with various groups, and through this contact with the music,while in New England she has performed with RhumbAfrica and many other African artists. Maria brings a lifetime of love and expertise to her community, which has long awaited the contributions of its African population.

$10/+ $2 w/ Salsa 12a-1a