Tabanka is a young Cape Verdean group from Rotterdam whose music has been inspired by that of Cape Verde artists from an older generation such as Code di Dona, Bulmundo, Americo Brito and of course, Bitori.
The group has a fresh and contemporary take on funana, the upbeat, energetic and festive music and dance style, once forbidden by the Portugeuse colonial rulers, which then became part of the post-independence Cape Verdean identity in the Eighties.
Funana was derived from the music from the descendants of slaves, mixed with contemporary pop and jazz. The base of the music are the gaita and the rasping sound of the ferrinho.
TABANKA puts on an exuberant live show in which it is impossible to stand still.
Photo by Bas van der Wel
