Bandera: Five Centuries old triumphant Cape Verdean Festival music, for the first time, available in contemporary form.
Tchoru: The wailing melodies of the Cape Verdean wakes, for the first time, transposed to music.
Bandera, an old and sacred Cape Verdean music style, is the title of the Mendes Brothers’ third album on MB Records. It is a triumphant, blues-tinged and undoubtedly a West African music tradition which has been preserved in Cape Verde Islands for over 500 years, performed exclusively during the saint festivals in honor of the deities (St. John, St. Peter, St. Filipe, etc.). Traditionally, bandera is performed using two or more drummers (Kacherus), an entourage of chanters (Baxon), and several masqueraded dancers (Kaninzadis) wearing their scary African masks and hand-made costumes.
Unlike other Cape Verdean music expressions such as Coladera, Morna, Funana, or Talaia Baxu, which are set on a 4/4 rhythmic pattern, Bandera is set on a beautifully syncopated ¾ rhythm pattern with very simple and repetitive melodic structure. It is as well a tremendously flexible music form, which can be easily mixed with Samba, Reggae, Blues and many other African music expressions.
Bandera, the album, marks the first time that Bandera is being transposed from its traditional music form to the contemporary music stage. The album is composed of 11 songs, including 3 Banderas.
In addition, the album also introduces a new genre of Cape Verdean “expression” to the music arena: Tchoru (Wailing). Tchoru is the soul-breaking, painful lament which is always present in every Cape Verdean funeral. It is perhaps the most sacred of all Cape Verdean expressions to be lent to music. The mourning of the passing of loved ones in Cape Verdean culture is rarely celebrated with music, unless the deceased happens to be a famous musician. Thus, it is very important to stress that Wailing is not considered to be music in Cape Verdean culture; but, simply the uncontrollable outpour of emotions at the height of which the soul can only be comforted through wailing. Simultaneously, however, it is difficult to ignore the rich, sand and melancholy melodies that are created at such a painful moment.
The Mendes Brothers herein dedicates de “Semba/Coladera”, “Angola Kuia” in honor of all the master Angolan musicians who have and continue to influence and inspire this Cape Verdean musical group. In recognition thereof, the Mendes Brothers extended a Special Guest Invitation to the Angolan conga master, João Morgado (“das Tumbas”) to participate in the Bandera album.
Bandera, the music, is no doubt one of the oldest and most popular Cape Verdean music styles, with roots extending as far back as the discovery and allegedly population of Cape Verde Islands in 1460, by Portugal.
Bandera, the album, is intended to be a clear and meditated departure from the current Cape Verdean music recordings.
Most important of all, Bandera is Cape Verdean music that all Cape Verdeans, young and old, rich and poor, can feel proud of because it is in every sense of the word, Cape Verdean.
