JENIFER SOLIDADE
Jenifer Solidade has been singing morna since she was a child. Today, she is a professional singer in Mindelo, on Cape Verde’ Sao Vicente island. In 2011 she went to Lisboa, Portugal, to study vocal technics, and her first CD Um Click was released in 2015.
INTERVIEW – january 2014
How did you come to music?
I have always liked singing. Music is part of my family; my cousin plays bass guitar, my aunt sings for traditional weddings or newborn ceremonies… But most importantly I remember spending a lot of time with my father at home, listening to Cape Verdean music – he liked it so much! That is what made me want to sing.
Why is Cape Verdean music important?
Tradition is important. It is the roots of Cabo Verdeans; we feel good when we continue the traditions, when we sing. Morna is part of Cabo Verdeans’ DNA. It is a heritage from our ancestors; the songs, the compositions, the melodies, all these need to be continued and valued.
That said, I believe morna can evolve and that it goes well with other musical influences. I can add some ideas from other music styles in my songs, but the morna style will still be recognizable. Tradition isn’t fixed and music has to evolve.
How do you envision the future of morna?
Morna represents Cape Verde abroad. I believe it will never disappear. Maybe it will progress, the style will experience some changes over the years, but not in its essence. Morna is Cabo Verdeans’ daily life; it is love, family, saudade (a feeling typically expressed in Cape Verdean culture). So the morna will always exist and convey these feelings.
Do you have a message for the world?
If you don’t know the morna style yet, I invite you to look for it on the Internet. There are many great Cape Verdean artists; look for Cesaria Evora, Tito Paris, Elida Almeida, etc. This style represents Cape Verde, so if you want to get an idea of what Cape Verde looks like, listen to morna!
Buy the CD Um Click here
Retrouvez l’interview avec Jenifer Solidade en français sur Terri(s)toires ici >>