Bidinte

One of West Africa's top singer/songwriters, Bidinte (born Jorge Da Silva Bidinite) has combined Afro-Portuguese rhythms, Guinean gumbe, and flamenco to create his unique sound. A native of Boloma, a small port city in the Bijagos Islands, Bidinte moved with his parents to the neighborhood of Ajada. Inspired by the musically rich neighborhood, he taught himself to play guitar and began writing songs. He performed at a youth festival in Havana, Cuba, in 1978. Performing at a conference for journalists in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1988, Bidinte met several musicians, including Justino Delgado, and formed the band Docolma, with whom he recorded three albums. A turning point in Bidinte's musical evolution came when he performed in Madrid, Spain, in 1992. Immersing himself in the city's music scene, he fell in love with the complex melodies and intricate rhythms of flamenco.