Coladeira

Coladeira is the uptempo, dance-oriented song form of Cape Verde, the brisk counterpart to the slower morna. Developed in the mid-20th century on the islands of São Vicente and Santiago and in the Cape Verdean diaspora, it is played by small ensembles of guitar, cavaquinho, violin, piano or accordion and percussion, at a lively pace suited to couple dancing. Its texts, sung in Cape Verdean Creole, favour wit, social satire and commentary on emigration and everyday life. Popularised by *Bana* and the *Voz de Cabo Verde* orchestra, coladeira remains, with morna and funaná, a pillar of música cabo-verdiana.