Ferro Gaita
Sounds of Cabo Verde
Celebrated group Ferro Gaita brings to Le Guess Who? the rich history of funaná, a traditional genre of Cabo Verdean music that originated on Santiago Island in the late 19th century following the arrival of the accordion. Born in an environment of poverty, hidden revolt and protest, funaná became the voice of the working class, expressing the struggles of everyday life—reasons that led Portuguese colonial authorities to ban the music from public spaces. Named after the genre's signature instruments—the ferro (a piece of metal played with a knife) and the gaita (a type of accordion)—the group was founded in 1996 by three young musicians who discovered new paths for the tradition. Starting with performances in bars and on the streets, Ferro Gaita quickly caught people's attention for their warm, distinctive sound, leading to invitations to perform at major festivals and celebrations.
This artist is part of Sounds of Cabo Verde, a special program dedicated to the diversity of Cabo Verde music culture, its traditions and the Cabo Verdean diaspora in the Netherlands.
