Morna (Cape Verde)
The morna is the traditional musical style of Cape Verde, born in the 1920s on the island of Santiago. Often described as the most melancholic music in Africa, it is a slow 4/4 ballad accompanied by violin, guitar and cavaquinho. Morna is deeply linked to saudade (nostalgia) and themes of emigration, the sea and suffering.
The emblematic composer is Sérgio Mendes (who internationalised morna with Brazillian Boys), Bana, and above all Cesária Évora (1941-2011), nicknamed the barefoot diva, who turned morna into a global phenomenon thanks to albums like Morna (1987) and Missão de Amor (2005). Mayra Andrade and D’Crona continue this tradition.
Morna is often paired with the cola (more rhythmic) and the funaná (from the North, Haitian influence). Together they constitute Cape Verdean popular music.
