Dino d'Santiago, a musician from Cabo Verde, has won a Grammy Latino award in the category of Best Brazilian Popular Music/Afro Portuguese Brazilian Album for his album "Criolo, Amaro & Dino", recorded with Brazilian artists Criolo and Amaro Freitas. The award was presented on Friday, November 12, in Las Vegas, United States. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Dino d'Santiago and his collaborators.
The album "Criolo, Amaro & Dino" is a result of the three artists' collaboration, blending their perspectives to create a unique sound and language. The album was recorded in sessions held in Rio de Janeiro, Recife, São Paulo, and Lisbon. According to a statement released by the agency Arruada, the album is a contemporary exercise based on Afro-Atlantic traditions, highlighting rhythms from Brazil and the African diaspora.
Upon receiving the award, Dino d'Santiago emphasized the importance of the Portuguese language as a unifying factor among the PALOP countries and Portugal. He stated, "Cabo Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Portugal, thank you to this Portuguese language for making us a single people." This sentiment highlights the cultural significance of the language and the music that brings people together.
Amaro Freitas, a native of Recife, Brazil, expressed his disbelief at the victory, underscoring that the album represents a "work that unites the strength of black music, of the black diaspora around the world, Cabo Verde, Portugal, Grajaú [in São Paulo, where Criolo is from], the peripheries of Recife came together through the power of art". This album is a testament to the power of collaboration and cultural exchange.
Criolo, the Brazilian rapper, highlighted that the album was created "with soul and heart to celebrate friendship and remind us that music transforms people's lives". He dedicated the award to the "original peoples who are being massacred in Brazil", emphasizing the importance of music as a tool for healing and social commentary.
The President of Portugal, António José Seguro, congratulated Dino d'Santiago on his achievement, noting that it represents an important international recognition of his talent, creativity, and musical identity. The President also emphasized the capacity of the Portuguese language and Lusophone culture to bring people together and conquer new audiences.
The 27th edition of the Grammy Latino ceremony took place in Las Vegas, United States, and recognized a wide range of artists in 60 categories. The ceremony also saw Rosalía make history as the most awarded artist in the Grammy Latinos, with five trophies, and the first to have her studio album, Lux, win Album of the Year.
Key points
- Dino d'Santiago wins Grammy Latino for Best Brazilian Popular Music/Afro Portuguese Brazilian Album.
- The album "Criolo, Amaro & Dino" is a collaboration between Dino d'Santiago and Brazilian artists Criolo and Amaro Freitas.
- The album celebrates the cultural exchange and unity between Cabo Verde, Portugal, and Brazil through music.
