A breath of fresh air
from Cape Verde
Lucibela, a voice to make bougainvillea flowers tremble and wave crests shiver
By Andrew Burlone
July 17, 2024
Lucibela is a smile, a breath of fresh air that makes bougainvillea flowers tremble and wave crests shiver. This enchanting voice from Cape Verde charms with her moving morna and sparkling coladeiras, passionately and gracefully perpetuating Cesária Évora’s musical legacy.
The dazzling singer with a golden voice enchants world stages with her bewitching vocals.
Acclaimed as “the heir to Cesária Évora’s musical heritage,” this young Cape Verdean singer illuminates the international scene with her warm, nuanced voice and incomparable talent. Her interpretations of sparkling coladeiras and captivating mornas revive the soul of Cape Verde, a precious heritage immortalized by Cesária, the legendary Barefoot Diva.
Born Lucibela Freitas Dos Santos, on July 18, 1986, in Tarrafal, on the island of São Nicolau, she grew up in a family environment where music reigned supreme, and from a very young age was immersed in the enchanting melodies and captivating rhythms of traditional Cape Verdean music.
Lucibela was naturally destined for an artistic career, and in 2017, her participation in the Atlantic Music Expo in Cape Verde, an annual event showcasing African artists and music industries and the African diaspora, helped establish her reputation as a leading emerging artist.
This event offered her a platform to present her talent to international broadcasters, thus consolidating her rise in the music world. In 2018, she was selected to perform in an official showcase at WOMEX (World Music Expo) in the Canary Islands, a major event in the world music field.
Her remarkable performance earned her increased recognition on the global music scene, opening new doors for her career and propelling her name beyond borders in Germany, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada – Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario, Spain, United States, France, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Switzerland.
Lucibela’s songs often draw inspiration from the realities of life in Cape Verde, harmoniously blending elements of traditional Cape Verdean music with contemporary sounds.
Collaborating with renowned composers and lyricists such as Carlos Matos, Manuel de Novas, Jorge Humberto, Betu, Nhelas Spencer, Luis Lima, Toy Vieira, Tibau Tavares, Amilcar Fernandes Spencer Lopes known as Miquinha, and Emilio Moret, a Cuban composer and artist, as well as her fellow artist Elida Almeida, she brings original depth and authenticity to these compositions.
Endowed with a captivating voice and a charismatic stage presence, Lucibela enthralls audiences worldwide, thus perpetuating the rich and diverse musical heritage of her country while leaving her own distinctive mark. With enchanting melodies and poignant lyrics, Lucibela embodies the soul of Cape Verde, capturing the island rhythms and stories of everyday life.
CITATIONS
“Since the death of diva Cesária Évora in 2011, fans have been waiting for another Cape Verdean singer with sublime grace and emotional power. We may have found her in Lucibela, a 32-year-old singer with a truly beautiful voice, fluid and effortless across a wide vocal range. Lucibela’s first album, “Laço Umbilical,” is a joyous celebration of her homeland.”
– NPR Music
“It’s a discovery and I was lucky to have her music. I found it to be super beautiful, a very beautiful voice, a very, very warm, very sensual, very enveloping presence. And I particularly love this kind of very swaying music…”
– Bïa | ICI Première | August 4, 2019
“She is presented to us as the rising star of Cape Verde. She’s a beautiful woman, mid-thirties, and what’s interesting is that we’re also told it’s her first visit to America. So, we really need to catch her…”
– Culture with Katerine Verebely | ICI Première | August 13, 2019
“The ‘new’ Cesária Évora, Lucibela, begins her first tour in Quebec and Acadia”
– Marie-Ève DuSablon | ICI Ottawa-Gatineau | August 6, 2019
“Lucibela won the hearts of the audience early in the evening, during her first visit to Chicoutimi. […] Her voice is reminiscent of a late evening breeze…”
– Rocket Lavoie | Le Quotidien | August 9, 2019
“It’s difficult, however, to report on the entire program […], but Lucibela’s at the Auberge sous les arbres was certainly one of the most appreciated…”
– Jean-Philippe Thibault | Gaspésie Nouvelle | August 13, 2019
“Lucibela brilliantly embodies the next generation of the Cape Verdean scene.”
– Patrick Labesse, Le Monde, France
“…if none can match the magic of Cesária Évora, some singers have a sensitivity that comes closer than others. Young Lucibela is one of them.”
– Le Monde, France
“Lucibela, singing by the grace of the gods, is the announced heir to Cesária Évora’s musical heritage.”
– Roots Time
Lucibela’s website • Facebook • Instagram • Youtube

Andrew Burlone, co-founder of WestmountMag.ca, began his media journey at NOUS magazine. Subsequently, he launched Visionnaires, holding the position of creative director for over 30 years. Andrew is passionate about cinema and photography and also has a keen interest in visual arts and architecture.
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