Mornas con Stória — returns to New Bedford with an edition dedicated to the evolution of the Cape Verdean morna

The city of New Bedford, in the state of Massachusetts, is preparing to host the fourth edition of the event “Mornas con Stória – Evolution”, an initiative dedicated to the history, identity, and evolution of Cape Verdean music. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, and aims to offer the public an evening of music, remembrance, and celebration of Cape Verdean culture.

Organized by Bristol Community College Lusocentro, in partnership with the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies at Bridgewater State University, the event invites reflection on a crucial phase in the history of the morna: its ability to reinvent itself over time. Following previous editions dedicated to the roots of this musical genre, the initiative now turns its attention to the transformations that have shaped morna, particularly in the period following Cape Verde’s independence, proclaimed in 1975.

Under the theme “Evolution”, this edition pays tribute to the composers who blazed new trails for morna, introducing fresh poetic approaches, more elaborate musical arrangements, and influences that mirrored the country’s social and cultural changes. The evolution of morna did not necessarily mean a break with tradition, but rather a way to preserve its essence by adapting it to new realities and sensibilities. Melody, longing, and emotion continue to take center stage, even as themes and styles of performance evolve.

The program will feature storyteller Any Delgado and musicians Rafa Pires, Pele, Calu Lopes, and Claudio Ramos, as well as the renowned Cape Verdean performer Calu Bana. Through music and storytelling, the participants will take the audience on a journey through the history and evolution of one of the most representative genres of Cape Verdean cultural identity. The initiative also includes a reception for guests, creating a space for community members and lovers of Cape Verdean culture to meet and socialize.

Internationally recognized, the morna was inscribed in 2019 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition underscores the importance of initiatives that promote the transmission of musical knowledge across generations, honor its composers and performers, and keep alive the connection between music, history, and the identity of the Cape Verdean people. Its history demonstrates how a cultural expression can evolve alongside the changes in a society without losing the elements that give it its authenticity.

The event is also organized in partnership with Orgulho Nacional – CV and the Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford, as well as with institutional and cultural support from organizations dedicated to promoting the Portuguese language and Cape Verdean studies. Tickets cost $60. Those interested can obtain information and make inquiries by contacting Carlos Almeida at [email protected] or by phone at 401-919-4293, and from Angelo Barbosa at [email protected] or by phone at 508-897-7003.

More than just a musical performance, “Mornas con Stória – Evolution” aims to establish itself as a space for preserving collective memory and fostering dialogue between generations of the Cape Verdean diaspora. By highlighting the composers and performers who helped revitalize the morna after independence, the fourth edition invites the public to understand that tradition is not static: it remains alive when it is known, shared, and passed on to new generations, keeping Cape Verde connected to its roots, even beyond the archipelago’s borders.

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