13th Morna Fest to Tour Seven Municipalities in Cabo Verde

The 13th Morna Fest, scheduled to run from November 20 to December 12, will honor renowned musician Mário Marta. The festival will visit seven municipalities across Cabo Verde, starting in Assomada on November 20, then moving to the island of Sal on November 27, São Nicolau on November 28, Boa Vista on December 5, São Filipe on December 7, Praia on December 11, and finally concluding in Mindelo on December 12.

This year's event features a diverse lineup of artists, including Kavita Shah, Tiolino, Sandra Horta, Lucibela Freitas, Dudu Araújo, Calu Bana, Bertânia Almeida, Bau Almeida, Assol Garcia, Arlindo Rodrigues, Albertino Évora, Toy Vieira, Zé Rui de Pina, Carla Lima, and Lisa Pires. Júlio do Rosário, organizer of the festival, expressed his excitement, noting that the event has become highly anticipated by the public.

According to Júlio do Rosário, the Morna Fest has inspired many young people to take an interest in singing morna. He mentioned that numerous individuals have reached out to participate, and while it's not possible to accommodate everyone, the event has sparked significant enthusiasm. The organizer also highlighted that this year's edition will surpass last year's, with seven municipalities hosting the festival compared to four in 2025.

Plans for future editions are underway, with a goal to expand to ten municipalities in 2027. Júlio do Rosário revealed that they have already received a request from the Câmara Municipal da Ribeira Grande, de Santo Antão, to bring the festival to their municipality. Although some municipalities, such as São Domingos, Tarrafal de Santiago, and the island of Maio, had requested to postpone their events to 2027, the organizers aim to include them in the future.

The festival will feature moments of tribute to Mário Marta, who participated in three previous editions of Morna Fest. Júlio do Rosário remembered Mário Marta as a person who brought a positive atmosphere to the event, and his participation was always a huge success. The organizer assured that a special tribute will be prepared for Mário Marta, similar to previous editions where other notable figures in Cabo Verdean music were honored.

Júlio do Rosário emphasized that 13 years of the festival demonstrate not only its significance but also the resilience and hard work that has gone into maintaining it. Despite facing challenges, the organizers remain committed to delivering a high-quality event. With most lineups already finalized, Júlio do Rosário expressed confidence that this edition will be a success, featuring a mix of established and emerging artists from across the country and the diaspora.

Key points of the festival include its expansion to seven municipalities, a tribute to Mário Marta, and a diverse lineup of artists. The event aims to promote Cabo Verde's traditional morna music and provide a platform for both local and international artists to showcase their talents.

Key points

• The 13th Morna Fest will take place in seven municipalities across Cabo Verde from November 20 to December 12.
• The festival will honor renowned musician Mário Marta, who participated in three previous editions.
• The event features a diverse lineup of artists, including both established and emerging talents from Cabo Verde and the diaspora.