Batuque the Soul of a People

In 1462 the first African slaves were settled on the island of Cape Verde brought by the Portuguese colons It is supposed that they were the first inhabitants of the archipelagos They carried with them the rhythms and the seeds of what became the BATUQUE a music form performed mostly by women both singers and dancers The singers repeat very strong lyrics sitting in a circle and beating the rhythms with their hands on a piece of cloth between their legs While one woman performs a very sensual dance with her hips in the middle of the circle During the colonial era it has been strongly forbidden but it remained alive in clandestinity The group Raiz de Tambarina one of the oldest groups of Batuque on Santiago island is composed of ordinary people saleswomen fish merchants drivers Through their every day life and performances we discover Cape Verde today and their passion for the Batuque