Elida Almeida (Cape Verde)

Listen to Elida Almeida’s 2026 album, Spedju, and it’s all there. The effortless power of her voice, the meeting between established styles and rhythms such as funaná, batuque and morna with something fresh and modern. 

One of the biggest new stars of Cape Verdean music, Almeida was born on the island of Santiago, and was raised singing church hymns. When her father died, she contributed to her family income through a radio program on the local radio station in Maio. A tenacious advocate for the right to education, Almeida soon left her childhood world to compose songs of love and concern. Her fresh, warm voice had an instant appeal and one of her earliest songs became featured on the famous Portuguese TV soap opera A Unica Mulher. From there on, things accelerated. 

Her first album, Ora doci, Ora Margos, introduced many fans to her powerful voice. Her name rang out across Europe, Africa and North America. On her second album, Kebrada, she asserted her African identity, fusing home grown rhythms with a Latin sensibility. She has become a spokesperson for Cape Verde, and the voice of a new generation – on albums such as Di Lonji, Gerasonobu and this years batch of songs, Spedju, she not only mixes the past with the presents, she has also honed her craft as a deeply personal singer, mastering the art of the ballad in sincere, tender and virtuosic ways. Over 10 years into her career, she has visited over 50 countries, won numerous awards and hearts on four different continents - and this autumn, she will visit Oslo World with her solo project for the very first time. 

In collaboration with Riksscenen.