JamandaHalfxVagabros: The End of a Journey

All good trips have to end sometime and this one was particularly memorable. Now that the Vagabrothers are in London, getting ready for whatever adventures and competitions may come (on their way to hopefully winning an around the world trip!!), our around the world musical journey has come to an end. But like all good adventures, the end of this one starts the beginning of another. Look out tomorrow for the start of a new chapter for JamandaHalf as we strive to bring you music that transcends boundaries. As well, to recap the 13 country journey we just took, check out our favorites from the many countries we "visited" over the last two weeks.

JamandaHalfxVagabrothers Destination 9: Cabo Verde

One day it would be amazing to replicate the type of trip Griff and I are taking, in "real" life of course, and visit perhaps 30 countries in 120 days or so. We would use those 96 hours to see live music and talk to as many locals as possible about what makes the music of that country special and how it relates to their culture, history, etc. But doing this virtual traveling, delving into the depths of Spotify, does have its benefits and one of those is being able to wake up and find ourselves not in dusty Rajasthan but in the tiny Atlantic island nation of Cabo Verde.

Cabo Verde's history has been a story of transit, immigration, and emigration. Cabo Verde was used as a stopover from Europe to the "new world" and Africa and was populated by the Portuguese and the African slaves they brought with them. The tiny archipelago therefore shares links to both Portuguese and Brazilian musical cultures, while its proximity to West Africa gives it even more flavor. However, behind the veneer of beaches and sun lies decades of stagnant economic growth (until recently) and many Cabo Verdians left, looking for a better life away (there are currently more Cabo Verdians living away from the islands than on the islands themselves). Cabo Verdian music reflects both this joy and melancholiness, and its national genre Morna birthed an international superstar in Cesária Évora. For such a tiny nation, Cabo Verde bursts with music and we did our best to capture a small panorama below. Tell us what you think!

Mayra Andrade

Tengo el Gran Gusto de Presentaros a la Artista Mayra Andrade

QUE GANAS QUE TENGO DE IR A LA MAMA AFRICA.  Nuca he estado (pero si no me muero corriendo con los toros en San Fermines) llegaré en África el año que viene.   Me parece que es un continente con mucha diversidad y sabiduría.  Sueño en tierra linda y gente bonita con mucho estilo.  Cuando escucho a Mayra Andrade, me hace pensar un estilo de vida africana y tranquila de los quien viven cerca del mar.  Mayra nació en Cuba pero creció en las islas de Cabo Verde cerca de Senegal.   Navega se llama el primer álbum de Mayra y estrenó en 2006.  Ella canta en el Creole de Cabo Verde y me mola mucho.  ¡Que la disfrutéis!   

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