Voz

Born in Mindelo, in June 1956, Tété Alhinho now lives in Praia, capital of Cape Verde, on the island of Santiago. There, she has a room with a view… of the sea. Such surroundings have an unparalleled capacity for allowing her to slip away and let her imagination run wild to the sound of the waves, and for feeding her inspiration. “From my bed I see only the ocean, it’s wonderful”. When she speaks of this nest she has made for herself, her voice seems to sparkle with enthusiasm. Tété Alhinho has lived near the sea since the day she was born. In fact, she couldn’t do without it. “For island people”, she says, “it is impossible to live without it. The sea is a constant source of nostalgia and, for us Cape Verdeans, the feeling of saudade. The sea symbolizes separation and togetherness simultaneously. It allows us to come and go, but at the same time it distances us from those who must leave us.” When Tété Alhinho reminisces, she gazes out over the sea with a faraway look in her eyes.