Elio Batalha: “When I’m on stage, I feel like the ‘show’ belongs to us. Not mine”

The Cape Verdean rapper has released a new album, Di Cairo a Cabo, a collection of songs depicting African reality. “Dexam Bua”, “Imortal” or “Sima Nu Sta Nu Ka Podi Fica” are some themes already well known to his multi-generational audience who identify with his struggle for better social and human conditions on the African continent. . continent.

One of the songs that has had great success in Cape Verde is “Dexam Bua” (“Let Me Fly”), which talks about the daily struggles of an ordinary Cape Verdean. “A difficult struggle. Very difficult. Every day we face obstacles, difficulties, traps. With people who do not want us to fly. This need to fly is important. We have this will. They must let us fly. He also talks about importance, mainly because of the role of the mother in this daily struggle.The success of the song is largely due to this, to the importance that the people of Cape Verde attach to the figure of the mother, “says Elio Batalha.

The theme is performed in partnership with Sonia Sousa, who is also part of Harmonia: she conceived an artistic residency on the island of Sao Vicente, and one of the results was this song, which became a real hit in Cape Verde.

“Di Cairo a Cabo” was presented in the last month of April at the Atlantic Music Expo (AME) in Praia. A concert that began with a tribute to the soldiers who died this year in a fire accident in Serra Malagueta, in the interior of the island of Santiago, and ended with the singer inviting many of the children present at the concert to come up on stage to sing Same.

“When I’m on stage, I feel like the ‘show’ belongs to us. It’s not mine. Environment, scene, place play an important role. People must participate. “show”, they must feel like I’m a brother. The AME concert was special. The participation of the children at the end and the people who sang and were part of the “show” were very important to me. there should be a tense dialogue of feelings. I don’t want to go on stage and go downstairs. I have to create a close bond with my “people”. That’s what happened. The show didn’t start well. , but this connection existed and was very important to end well. People left there happy. My “show” should be this fellowship. This exchange of feelings. When I get on stage, I have to do my best to make people feel like they belong,” concludes the Praia rapper.