First up it’s Cabo Verde, who have played brilliantly so far and have a huge game today vs Angola.  Gilyto aka Mr. Entertainer and his song dedicated to Os Tubarões Azuis, sets the scene. It is kind of an official song and captures people’s enthusiasm and affection for the national team. I personally don’t like it much but people do, and it’s catchy (it’s speeds up Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”) and the video’s nicely done. The kids will love it. Plus, with those snippets of local radio commentary, it has the crucial ingredient in any cheesy football tournament song.

The game against Angola today is “the Lusophone derby” of Afcon 2013. It is likely to be a winner-takes-all match. What better day to listen to the great Cesária Évora’s song “Angola“, all about the friendship between Cape Verdeans and Angolans.

Next up here’s Bida di Gossi with “Os tubarões” and Bulimundo’s “Konpasu Pilon;” both of these songs are about how the difficulties of everyday life affect people’s lives.

Beach football. Table football. Dancing. Finaçon’s “Si Manera” has it all. This song talks about personal freedom and the struggle of the Cape Verdean people.

We couldn’t have a playlist for Cape Verde right now without featuring Mayra Andrade. Here she is, first up “Kaka Barboza”/ “Dimokransa“, and then “Quim di Santiago”/ “Kenha ki ben ki ta bai“.

Finally, two more from Cesária Évora (we couldn’t resist). “Petit Pays“, about our diaspora’s love of and nostalgia for their little homeland. And lastly “Sodade“. In the 1940’s we had a famine and many people were contracted to work in  São Tomé and Príncipe (contracts that were never fulfilled; these people effectively did slave labor). This song is about the nostalgia of those people.