Bana

Standing more than seven feet in height, the Cape Verdean artist Bana immediately draws notice, yet only his voice reveals the full extent of his exceptional gift. A widely celebrated performer of morna, he entered the music industry during the 1950s by ferrying the disabled composer B. Leza between successive concert venues. His prominence reportedly drew accusations of ties to the colonial Portuguese administration; unable to shed the resulting stigma, he relocated to Europe and established residences in Rotterdam, Paris, and, most recently, Lisbon. Beyond his vocal achievements, Bana has also taken on production duties, collaborating in that role with Cesaria Evora.