The batuque is probably the oldest musical genre in Cape Verde, but there are written records of it only from the XIX century. Presently it is found only in Santiago, however, there are clues that it existed in all the islands of Cape Verde..^[2]

According to Carlos Gonçalves^[3], the batuque is not a musical genre that originated in the African continent. It would be an adaptation of some African dance (which one?) that later has developed its own characteristics in Cape Verde.

The Portuguese administration and the Church have always hostilized the batuque, because it was considered “African”, but during the policy of Estado Novo this hostilization was stronger. The batuque has even been forbidden in urban centers, and it managed to be a dying musical genre from the fifties.

After the independence there has been an interest in the revival of some musical genres. But it is in the nineties that the batuque has experienced a true rebirth with young composers (such as Orlando Pantera, Tcheka, Vadú) doing research work and giving a new form to the batuque, being sung by also young singers (such as Lura, Mayra Andrade, Nancy Vieira).

Meaning

In ancient times the batuque had a precise social meaning. It was performed in holy days, in certain ceremonial occasions, in feasts, before and during weddings. There are some scholars who speculate that the dance movement of the batuque has a sexual meaning and the goal was to promote the fertility of the bride.

Nowadays the batuque has lost its original meaning. It has been transformed in a stage performance^[3], and it is performed in official acts, in parties or it is used by some groups to give an example of Cape Verdean folklore.