Guanábana highlights the sounds of islands across the Caribbean, Polynesia, and beyond — covering music from regions between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Island hop with Madeleine Sturma and Hatt Merlino as they showcase genres like bachata, zouk, mele, morna, and more.

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Cape Verde is a chain of 10 volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. It remained uninhabited until the 15th century when the Portuguese established it as an outpost during the Transatlantic slave trade. As a result, Cape Verdean culture is a unique blend of influences from various Sub-Saharan African traditions, Portugal, and Brazil.

Music has always been central to Cape Verdean identity, giving rise to genres like morna, funaná, and coladeira. This episode explores Cape Verdean music from the 1960s to the 1990s, spanning traditional styles to sounds shaped by Western rock influences of the ‘60s and ‘70s, as well as Caribbean genres like zouk and reggae. Many of these songs are sung in Cape Verdean Creole, a language that reflects the islands’ diverse cultural roots. You’ll hear from some of Cape Verde’s most renowned groups, including Tulipa Negra, Os Tubarões, and Mendes & Mendes, alongside lesser-known artists whose work has recently been reintroduced to a wider audience through reissues, such as Tchiss Lopes.