Funaná

The funaná is a special kind of music and dance that comes from Cape Verde. It uses an accordion as the main instrument, which gives the music its unique sound.

Along with the accordion, funaná often includes a small metal instrument called the ferrinho, which adds a steady rhythm to the music. This is similar to how other music styles use different tools to keep the beat, like washboards in some American music, or scrapers in African and Latin music.

Funaná is loved by many people and is an important part of the culture and traditions of Cape Verde. It brings people together to dance and celebrate.

Characteristics

The funaná is a type of music from Cape Verde that uses the accordion as its main instrument. The music has a steady beat and often uses simple musical scales. Singers may emphasize certain notes to mimic the sound of the accordion.

Funaná songs usually tell stories about everyday life, happiness, and challenges. They sometimes also include thoughts about society and life in general. The words in these songs are often clever, using proverbs and popular expressions. This makes them fun to listen to and understand.

Traditionally, funaná music only used an accordion and a special instrument called a ferrinho to keep the rhythm. Over time, other instruments like drums, guitars, and synthesizers have been added. But recently, there has been a return to the older, more natural style using just accordions and ferrinhos.

As a dance

Funaná is a dance for couples. The partners hold each other with one arm and hold hands with the other arm. They move by quickly bending their knees to match the music's rhythm. In rural areas, dancers lean forward a little and lift their feet off the ground. In cities, the dance is more formal, with dancers standing straight and dragging their feet on the ground.

History

The funaná is a newer type of music from Cape Verde. It began in the early 1900s on the island of Santiago when people there started using accordions to play music. Instead of copying Portuguese styles, they created their own unique sound. The name "funaná" likely came in the 1960s or 1970s, possibly from two musicians named Funa and Naná.

For a long time, funaná was mostly played in rural areas and by people from less wealthy backgrounds. It was even banned in the capital city, where a different style of music called morna was more popular. But in the 1980s, a musician named Carlos Alberto Martins, also known as Catchás, helped bring funaná back to life. He mixed traditional funaná with jazz and classical music, using electric and electronic instruments. His band, Bulimundo, helped spread funaná to all the islands of Cape Verde.

In the 1990s, funaná started to become known outside of Cape Verde, thanks in part to the band Finaçon. Today, funaná is enjoyed by people all over the world, though some bands now return to using more traditional instruments like accordions and ferrinhos.

Variants

The funaná has several different styles, and some of them are not very well known or even called by their right name. Here is a description of a few of these styles.

Funaná kaminhu di férru

This is the most famous style of funaná. When people just say "funaná", they usually mean this style, which is very popular for dancing. It sounds a bit like a march but played at a lively pace.

Funaná maxixi

The name of this style probably comes from a musical genre called maxixe that was popular in Cape Verde a while ago. This style sounds similar to the one above but is played at a faster pace.

Funaná samba

Even though it is called "samba", this style is not related to the modern Brazilian genre samba. It seems to be a version of lundum played using accordion methods. It has a slower pace and a different rhythm from the other styles, sounding a bit like toada.

Funaná morna

This style is not often called by this name and is more commonly known as slow funaná. It appears to be a version of morna played using accordion methods, also at a slower pace. For a long time, morna enjoyed popularity in cities and fancy dance halls, while in the countryside, people developed a slower version of funaná. Interestingly, this style has the same pace as the Boa Vista morna but not the Brava morna.

Examples of funanás

Here are some examples of funaná songs and who performed them:

• Funaná kaminhu di férru

  • “Djonsinho Cabral” by Os Tubarões (1978)
  • “Sant’ Antoni la Belêm” by Bulimundo (1981)
  • “Si manera” by Finaçon (1990)
  • “Matrialistas” by Kino Cabral (1992)
  • “Moças di Mangui” by Ferro Gaita (1997)

• Funaná maxixi

  • “Canta cu alma sem ser magoado” by Bana (19??)
  • “Pomba” by Codé di Dona (1997)
  • “Nôs cultura” by Ferro Gaita (2003)
  • “Puxim Semedo” by Eduíno e Petcha (2007)

• Funaná samba

  • “Djentis d’ aságua” by Zezé di Nha Reinalda (198?)
  • “Fomi 47” by Finaçon (1987)
  • “Codjeta” by Simentera (1992)

• Slow funaná

  • “Sema Lopi” by Bulimundo (1980)
  • “Pombinha Mansa” by Bulimundo (1981)
  • “Kortel di rabidanti” by Zeca & Zezé di Nha Reinalda (1983)
  • “Li qu’ ê nha tchon” by Os Tubarões (1990)

Legacy

RIU Hotels opened one of its first resorts and villas in the west of Santa Maria on the island of Sal, naming it Riu Funaná after the music genre.

Each year, a top funaná performance is honored at the Cabo Verde Music Awards, a tradition that began in 2011.