1986, Songs of the Badius, Santiago Island, Cape Verde, batuku, funana, Antoni Denti d’oro, Cabral

From the Villon Films Archive collections. Extract. Full duration: 0:34:44. To order the full film or clips in high/lo-res or to find out more visit: https://villonfilms.ca/ Subscribe for more high quality, rare and inspiring documentary material from our large archive of footage. We offer films and photography licensing for Film&TV, museums, galleries, education, and heritage organisations. About The Film Electricity didn’t arrive on Santiago Island, Cape Verde, until 1971. This film is a look at the “pre-electric” forms of Badius music and dance that survive on the island. The Badius are descendants of runaway African slaves and Portuguese colonists, and their music reflects this mix of heritages. One of the genres featured is batuku, a women’s dance, which comments on local events and people. We see Bibinha Cabral, age 86, give an incredibly energetic, extemporaneous performance. She also explains her approach to batuku and the way it is taught. Another genre, funana, is a sensuous dance style that was frowned upon by the Church for its sensuous movements, and by the government for its subversive lyrics. We see several well-known musicians playing at various events. But the highlight of the film is male batuku singer Antoni Denti d’oro, who has performed for over 50 years in a lively, comic style. His talents are in demand for many occasions, and though he worries that he’s too busy, he says he’ll perform batuku until “I’m picked up at the house and dropped off at the cemetery, dead.” The film showcases the fiercely independent spirit of the Badius as it comes through, loud and clear, in their music and dance. Producer, Director & Narrator: Gei Zantzinger Cinematography: Thomas Ott Editor: Ben Levin Sound: Gei Zantzinger About Villon Villon Films has been independently producing and distributing award-winning films since 1970. With a strong focus on socio-political documentary, the collection spans such issues as government, history, ecology, culture, health and science, biography, and the apartheid period of South African history, among others. WEBSITE: http://www.villonfilms.ca/ About: villon, film, documentary, video, stock footage, independent, socio-political, docs, government, history, ecology, culture, education, health, science, biography, history, heritage