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| Fundação Cesária Évora | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fundação Cesária Évora |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Cesária Évora |
| Location | Mindelo, São Vicente (Cape Verde), Cape Verde |
| Type | Cultural foundation |
| Focus | Preservation of morna, promotion of Cape Verdean music, cultural heritage |
Fundação Cesária Évora is a cultural foundation established to preserve the legacy of Cesária Évora and to promote Cape Verdean music, morna, and related artistic practices. Based in Mindelo, São Vicente (Cape Verde), the foundation operates a museum, archives, education programs, and cultural events attracting visitors from Praia, Santiago (Cape Verde), and international cultural networks including institutions from Portugal, France, Brazil, United States, and United Kingdom.
The foundation was created after the death of Cesária Évora in 2011, following initiatives by family members including Vozinha (singer), cultural figures from Mindelo, and municipal authorities of São Vicente (Cape Verde). Early milestones included collaborations with the Ministry of Culture (Cape Verde), agreements with the Municipality of Mindelo, and exhibitions timed with the Gamboa Festival and anniversaries of awards such as the BBC World Music Award and the Grammy Awards nominations connected to Cesária Évora. International support involved cultural institutes like the Instituto Camões, the Alliance Française, and the Goethe-Institut. The foundation received visits from delegations linked to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and engaged with archives in Lisbon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York City, and Luanda.
The foundation states goals aligned with cultural preservation recognized by bodies such as UNESCO and partners including the European Union cultural programs, the Ford Foundation, and the Prince Claus Fund. Activities include curating exhibitions related to morna, maintaining archives associated with recordings on labels like RCA Records, BMG, Globo Records, and promoting festivals such as Baía das Gatas Festival, Festival de Música da Mindelo, and collaborative concerts with ensembles from Portugal, France, Brazil, Angola, and Guinea-Bissau. The foundation organizes residencies inviting artists linked to Cesária Évora’s repertoire, including musicians influenced by Bau (musician), Lura (singer), Mayra Andrade, Sara Tavares, and producers who worked with Cesária Évora such as José da Silva (producer). Policy outreach has involved cultural ministries from Portugal and funding from philanthropic entities like the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
The museum and cultural center in Mindelo houses exhibitions on Cesária Évora’s life, instruments including traditional guitars and cavaquinho, costumes, stage props, and multimedia displays with footage from performances at venues such as Olympia (Paris), Royal Albert Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Permanent displays contextualize morna within Cape Verdean history referencing figures like Baltasar Lopes da Silva, Orlando Pantera, and events like the Carnaval de Mindelo. The center hosts temporary exhibitions curated with institutions like the Museu do Fado, the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência (Portugal), and international museums in Paris, Lisbon, London, and New York City.
Educational programs include workshops on vocal technique inspired by Cesária Évora’s style, masterclasses with artists such as Lura (singer), Mayra Andrade, and Bau (musician), and school outreach in São Vicente (Cape Verde) and Santiago (Cape Verde). The foundation partners with universities including the University of Cape Verde, the University of Lisbon, the Sorbonne University, New York University, and conservatories such as the Conservatório Nacional de Lisboa to run internships, seminars, and research projects on topics linked to morna, coladeira, and Lusophone Atlantic cultural exchanges. Outreach extends to diaspora communities in Lisbon, Boston, Paris, Rotterdam, and Providence, Rhode Island.
Archives house audio recordings, sheet music, photographs, correspondence with labels like EMI, Virgin Records, and contracts involving producers and managers from Paris and Lisbon. Collections document tours through Europe, Africa, and the Americas with materials tied to festivals such as the SWR3 New Pop Festival, FMM Sines, and performances at venues like Théâtre de la Ville and Sala São Paulo. The archive is cataloged in collaboration with institutions including the Arquivo Nacional de Cabo Verde, the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, the British Library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and university special collections at Brown University and the University of Lisbon.
The foundation collaborates with cultural organizations and festivals including the Gamboa Festival, Baía das Gatas Festival, FMM Sines, NOS Alive, and foundations such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, and Open Society Foundations. Academic partnerships include the University of Cape Verde, Arizona State University programs on ethnomusicology, and research networks connected to SOAS University of London and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Media collaborations involve broadcasters like the BBC, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal), France Télévisions, and NPR.
The foundation preserves honors associated with Cesária Évora including the Grammy Award nominations, the BBC World Music Award, and civic recognitions from the Municipality of Mindelo and the Government of Cape Verde. Its legacy is visible in ongoing influence on artists such as Mayra Andrade, Lura (singer), Sara Tavares, Tcheka, and initiatives promoting Cape Verdean culture across Lusophone networks in Lisbon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and the African Union cultural forums. The foundation contributes to heritage tourism linking sites like Mindelo’s port, the Fortim de São Pedro, and the cultural itinerary of São Vicente (Cape Verde).
Category:Cape Verdean culture Category:Museums in Cape Verde Category:Music organizations