Emanuel Maria Dias Fernandes (Zeca Nha Reinalda)
- Música
- compositor
The life story of Emanuel Dias Fernandes, or Zéca di Nha Reinalda, mixes with the history of the funaná of Santiago. Whether we hear him singing at the dances or in the dozens of records he recorded, the "Rei do Funaná" will continue to serve as an inspiration to a whole generation that, through funaná, has found a way to emancipate itself and express itself.
Zéca di Nha Reinalda was born in Bairro Craveiro Lopes, in the heart of the city of Praia. Since he was a child, he was fascinated by music. He often listened to his father playing and singing traditional Cape Verdean music. At the age of eight, the sounds coming from the other side of the Atlantic began to attract him, which made him spend hours listening to North American soul music. James Brown was a reference. With him he learned to sing, to express his deep feelings, and to give voice to the messages that came from his soul.
"Tó Martins", "Sant'Antoni la Belém", "Si Manera", "Proverbio" among many other themes will remain forever in the history of funaná and Cape Verdean music. With four decades of career, Zéca di Nha Reinalda, through her unique and felt interpretations, conquered Cape Verde and the world. The Career Award recently awarded by the organization of the Cape Verde Music Awards does full justice to the unrivalled contribution that Zéca di Nha Reinalda has, over the years, been making to funaná and traditional Cape Verdean music.
The life story of Emanuel Dias Fernandes, or Zéca di Nha Reinalda, mixes with the history of the funaná of Santiago. Whether we hear him singing at the dances or in the dozens of records he recorded, the "Rei do Funaná" will continue to serve as an inspiration to a whole generation that, through funaná, has found a way to emancipate itself and express itself.
Zéca di Nha Reinalda was born in Bairro Craveiro Lopes, in the heart of the city of Praia. Since he was a child, he was fascinated by music. He often listened to his father playing and singing traditional Cape Verdean music. At the age of eight, the sounds coming from the other side of the Atlantic began to attract him, which made him spend hours listening to North American soul music. James Brown was a reference. With him he learned to sing, to express his deep feelings, and to give voice to the messages that came from his soul.
"Tó Martins", "Sant'Antoni la Belém", "Si Manera", "Proverbio" among many other themes will remain forever in the history of funaná and Cape Verdean music. With four decades of career, Zéca di Nha Reinalda, through her unique and felt interpretations, conquered Cape Verde and the world. The Career Award recently awarded by the organization of the Cape Verde Music Awards does full justice to the unrivalled contribution that Zéca di Nha Reinalda has, over the years, been making to funaná and traditional Cape Verdean music.
