WEST AFRICA — SONGS BETWEEN OCEAN AND SAHEL

After four musical journeys through thirty-three countries, a new horizon appears. This time, our voyage takes us across West Africa: sixteen countries linked by ancient routes, restless oceans, desert winds, shared histories and an astonishing wealth of musical traditions. From the Atlantic islands of Cabo Verde to the wide landscapes of the Sahel and the forests along the Gulf of Guinea, every song will open a window onto another language, another rhythm and another way of remembering. This will not be a catalogue of countries, nor an attempt to capture an entire culture in a single composition. It is a journey of attentive listening—a series of musical encounters inspired by local voices, instruments, poetry and traditions, treated with curiosity, affection and respect. Our first port of call is Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente. “Mar, Leba Nha Voz” is an original morna in São Vicente Creole. Looking out across Porto Grande beneath the familiar silhouette of Monte Cara, a woman entrusts her voice to the sea. The ocean carries her longing, her memories and her sodade toward someone who is far away. And so our West African voyage begins—not with a drumroll, but with a quiet voice crossing the water. Welcome aboard. Music, concept and production: Gerrit Stassyns Creative collaboration: Gerrit Stassyns & ChatGPT