Funana on youtube
By Olav Aalberg e-mail: badiu @start.no , January 2009
This is a collection of video clips found on Youtube showing different types of Capeverdean funana. To read more about funana, you should look it up on Wikipedia, until I get a slightly better version up here.
First generation – roots funana
Kodé di Dona - Fomi 47. This song, Fomi 47, did not have a title, before Finaçon made it famous. The story is not about the terrible famine of 1947, but from1959, when an underage Kodé thought about signing up for contract labour in São Tomé and Principe. The theme deeply reflects the Capeverdean sentiments and experiences in the 20th century, where, during several extreme droughts, up to 20-25 percent of the population starved to death, unnoticed by the Portuguese regime.
Tchora is an other song of Kode´s.
Here is an interview with him (as you see, his name is sometimes written Codé. He tells the story of how he acquired his first gaita (accordeon), trading a barrel of corn for it.
Sema Lopi Sema Lopi Sema Lopi from Ribeira Seca, has made several compositions that Bulimundo and other bands have copied and presented as ”popular” or even their own. The example shows the man himself, singing the classic ”Sema Lopi”.
Second generation – funana goes electric
Bulimundo and their version of Sema Lopi. Bulimundo was founded by Carlos Alberto Martins – Katchas. The aim was to utilize the rhythms and traditions of the people of Santiago island. This song is from their debut album, Batuco, from 1980.
Finaçon and their Si manera is a good example of the way funana was played in the 80s.
Finaçon and their version of Fomi 47
Keita Dja cá sabedo, from his only solo-CD: Djobi na mi (=look at me). Keita is one of the musicians that was deeply inspired by Orlando Pantera´s ”neo-batuku” style, along with as different performers, as Tcheka, Vadú, Edson Dany, Mayra Andrade and Lura.
Bitori nha Bibinha Tchora pobreza (On CD´s they call this one simply Bitori Nha Bibinha) As usual, Bitori plays the gaita, and Chando Graciosa sings. Bitori was the teacher of Iduino, the leader of Ferro Gaita. This song is one that ”everybody” knows.
Bitori also spent a few years as contract labourer on São Tomé and
Principe, as did Sema Lopi.
Bitori nha Bibinha
Tchora pobreza live – a nice version I think, with batukaderas
accompanying Bitori.
Katuta Branca Riba Rubera. Katuta´s slow, almost drunken, voice is perfect for his personal funana style
Third generation – beat box, synth and whatnot
Sousa Bedja pá Bedja A great hit from the summer compilation, Verão 2002, CD, this one is an example of the use of beat box with the traditional ferro and gaita. You also hear Heavy H, singer, producer, and owner of the nice disco in Praia/Tira Chapeu, BombH (”bombaga”).
Belo Freire: Senhor do mundo. Belo is from Picos. Listen to the ”sebene” guitar, so typical for Congolese soukoss, blended into it. Belo is typical in the sense that he plays roots, but adapts to the tastes of the younger generations. He is also typical in the sense that he might as well be considered a second generation funana musician.