Although no one can argue how important "The Barefoot Diva" has been to Cape Verde and Cape Verdean music, there is more to the ten-island nation than the smooth, silky voice of the one and only Cesaria Evora. The soulful singer's Portuguese Creole vocals are known around the world, and her success has created a world-wide love affair with Cape Verde. All the same, there are still other vocal artists from the island group whose skill and style deserve recognition as well. Fantcha, one of Cape Verde's rising stars, is a fine example.

Fantcha Duräo Almeida was born in the venerable musical town of Mindelo. As a young girl, she performed with the Flores de Mindelo carnival troupe where she worked with Ti Goi, one of Cape Verde's famous composers. Through Ti Goi, Fantcha was introduced to Cesaria Evora, and the two singers hit it off. With Cesaria as both her friend and informal teacher, and with Ti Goi's rhythmic influence, Fantcha developed into a remarkable vocalist in her own right.

In 1988, Fantcha moved from Cape Verde to Boston and finally to New York where she lives today. Fantcha's departure from her island home is not unusual. An estimated two-thirds of the world's one-million Cape Verdeans live outside of their archipelago home. In her new adopted homeland, Fantcha and her band have recorded two albums for Lusafrica, Criolinha in 1998, and Viva Mindelo in 2000.

True to her Cape Verdean roots, Fantcha captivates the world with her soulful mornas. The morna tells the history of Cape Verde. Like a Portuguese fado, the Creole lyrics usually speak of sadness and love lost. While the beat of the drum echoes the memory of the slaves who passed through the islands on their way to Brazil and other distant destinations, the soft sound of the guitar evokes the forgotten memory of the Moors and the Arabs of northern Africa, who lived in Portugal during the time of Cape Verde's "discovery." The forced marriage of Portugal and Africa lives through the morna. Fantcha's musical style and charisma should not be missed. Fantcha's albums are living testaments of her unique style and ability. Fantcha also appears on the compilation CD Putumayo Presents Cape Verde, where she performs Paulo Vieira's morna "Cinderela," which tells the story of a young criolihna moça whose beauty blossoms like a flower born in Cabo Verde. Fatcha appears on this album with talented vocalists such as Ana Firmino and Nana Matias, as well as world-renowned Cape Verdean singers Bana and Cesaria Evora.

Contributed by: Edward Davis