afrol News / A Semana, 3 February - Cesária Évora, Cape Verde's internationally renown singer, on 14 February is to receive three gold records in Poland for the sale of more than 30,000 copies of three of her CDs. At the same time, her record company is honoured for its production of so-called "world music", mostly due to its production of Ms Évora's records.

On 14 February, Cesária Évora will receive three gold records in Poland for the sale of more than 30,000 copies of three of her CDs, Voz d'Amor, Café Atlântico and Best of. All these records have been great successes in most European and American countries, in addition to Cape Verde, of course.

Voz d'Amor elevated Cesária Évora to even higher levels of fame by winning her a Grammy award for best contemporary world music album last year. The same CD, along with Best of Cesária Évora (1998) and Café Atlântico (1999), has now contributed toward her triple gold achievement in Poland, a country far removed from Cape Verde both geographically and culturally.

The Central European country will welcome Ms Évora on 14 February for the ceremony in which the gold records will be given. The singer will return to the country in April and June for concerts in the cities of Poznac, Katowice, Szszecin and Sopot.

The achievement has brought dividends not only to the singer herself, but to her record label Lusafrica as well. This month Lusafrica was considered the fourth best producer of world music in the world, following Wrass, Tribal Union and Outcaste. Strangely, the English label World Circuit, which produces some of the most successful world music releases, was not included on the list.

Voting was carried out by a jury denominated World Music Charts Europe, made up of 50 radio programmers specialising in world music in 23 European countries. Every year the jury selects the 30 best world music labels from a list of upwards of 50 candidates.

By A Semana staff writer

© afrol News / A Semana

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories