Augusto Cego

The musical traditions of Cape Verde have been brought to the United States by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Augusto Cego. Living in Massachusetts since the late '80s, Cego continues to inspire audiences with his mastery of morna; a slow, melancholic, Cape Verdean style of song that combines West African percussion, Portuguese fados, Brazilian modhinas, and British sea shanties. Born in the small village of Bobosso, on the Cape Verdean island of Fago, Cego has been playing music most of his life. By the age of 14, he was attracting attention with his masterful ukulele and guitar playing. Although he lost his sight a year later, he continued to develop his musical vision, adding violin, clarinet, flute, saxophone, and harmonica to his arsenal of instruments.