Praia, Cabo Verde, June 2, 2025 (Lusa) - The Cabo Verdean government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Bank Group to finance the construction of a museum dedicated to internationally renowned singer Cesária Évora, in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, the executive announced.
"This memorandum aims to finance culture, art, creative industries and sport and, directly and more immediately, to build the Cesária Évora House Museum in Mindelo, São Vicente," reads a statement.
At the same time, there are plans to carry out a "study of the economic impact of culture and the construction of a pre-conservatory of music for young people in West Africa".
Two ministries (culture and finance) signed the memorandum with the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) during Cabo Verde Week at the World Bank, which took place in Washington last week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the archipelago's independence.
In December, the Minister of Culture told Lusa that the Cabo Verdean Government was preparing a protocol with Cesária Évora's family to create a space different from the current museum centres.
"It will not be an easy process as it requires the mobilisation of resources, but the Government is fully committed to making it happen," he said at the time.
The idea is not new, "it has had advances and setbacks," acknowledged the minister - who took office in 2024 - "but with dialogue" it will be possible to move forward.
"We think it will be an important centre for promoting morna," he said.
After this musical style was granted World Heritage status, the measure will be one of those intended to relaunch actions to enhance the identity of Cabo Verde during 2025.
The opening of a museum dedicated to ‘Cize’ in the city of Mindelo has been pending since the death of the "barefoot diva" on December 17, 2011, at the age of 70.
Visitors to São Vicente can learn a little more about the singer in museum spaces that the authorities have recognised as falling short of Cesária Évora's importance in the history of Cabo Verde.
Cesária Évora was the most internationally renowned singer in the history of Cabo Verdean popular music. Although she was successful in several other musical genres, Cesária Évora was mainly associated with morna, which is why she was also nicknamed the ‘Queen of Morna’.
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