Cremilda Medina advocates greater investment and training to preserve morna in Cape Verde

In an interview with Inforpress, the São Vicente-born performer assessed the state of morna, a genre inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco, stressing that the new generation has shown care in preserving the style.

"Morna once had a bit of a critical phase, but now it's on the right track. We have many young people, practically on all the islands, playing and interpreting morna as it is," he said, recognizing that aesthetic evolution is natural, as long as it doesn't compromise the essence of the genre.

One of the voices of traditional Cape Verdean music, Cremilda believes that the main challenge lies not in fidelity to the roots, but in the logic of the market, which favors numbers and views over artistic quality.

"Unfortunately, traditional music doesn't get views, it doesn't make money like other styles. And artists need to make a living," he observed, adding that this reality leads many performers to seek out other sounds in an attempt to ensure professional sustainability.

Still, he argues that the search for new paths should not mean devaluing Cape Verde's musical identity.

"The saddest thing is not to be devalued by others, it's to be devalued by the Cape Verdean himself," she stressed.

The singer also warned of the difficulties faced in holding concerts in the country with full bands of traditional music, pointing to financial limitations and lack of sponsorship as recurring obstacles.

He said that many artists who perform regularly abroad find it difficult to present the same projects in Cape Verde with equivalent technical and instrumental quality.

To guarantee the continuity and vitality of morna and coladeira, Cremilda advocates a structured commitment to artistic training and intergenerational exchange.

"We have musicians from the old school who are still alive and it would be a good idea to promote meetings with the new generation, so that this way of playing doesn't fall by the wayside," she suggested.

The artist also stressed the importance of taking traditional music to schools and creating spaces for sharing between masters and young performers, preserving techniques such as strumming the guitar and using the bordão, structural elements of Cape Verde's classical sound.

When asked about the release of her most recent album, "Lágrima", Cremilda expressed "joy and pride" in the work she had done, highlighting the participation of well-known names in national music.

"It's an extremely complete album. I feel very fulfilled," she said, adding that, for the time being, she wants to give the public time to listen to the album before announcing new projects.

Inforpress/End