Artist Profiles: Ferro Gaita

Ferro Gaita was founded in 1996 in the city of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. From the beginning, the band put their own spin on funana, mixing in snare and hand drums, electric bass, and even a conch shell to create a spirited instrumental backing for an upbeat and energetic live show. They also adopted a signature style of dress, performing in bright daishikis embroidered with print sarongs, all complemented by eccentric accessories and colorful scarves.

Ferro Gaita revolutionized funana for the contemporary audience. Their first album, Fundu Baxu presented funana in its original style and was the highest selling CD in Cape Verde in the year it was released (1997).

Two years later, the band released its second CD, Rei de Tabanka, recorded in the US. It includes unknown traditions like batuke, finaçon and tabanka along with funana, giving the project a completely original and unprecedented sound.

Their album Banda Liberdade (2004) launched them to new heights, solidifying Ferro Gaita as the face of modern Cape Verdean music. All the while, they have stayed true to their origins and, in 2006, they released a live CD/DVD, fittingly titled Finkadu na Raiz, or “Stuck in the Roots”.

Discography:

Fundu Baxu – Música de Cabo Verde (Cape Disco, 1997)
Rei Di Tabanka (1999)
Rei Di Funana (Lusafrica, 2001)
Bandera Liberdade (2004)
Live – Finkadu na Raiz (Ferro Gaita Produções, 2006)
Festa Fora (AV, 2015)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.