Udi Fagundes is a Brazilian singer, composer, and guitarist from Porto Alegre, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. His music draws heavily from pan-African influences, reflecting his belief that "every corner of the world holds a bit of Africa." He began his career in the late 1990s with the reggae band Rastamen and later joined the band A Geral. After moving to Rio in 2008, Fagundes joined Gabriel O Pensador's band in 2011 as a guitarist, touring internationally. Now based in Portugal, Fagundes continues to innovate, including a 2022 single mashup featuring Mestre Verdelinho and Manu Chao. He is finishing work on a new album scheduled for release in early 2025.
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"Petit Pays" (Little Country) is a Cabo Verdean morna, a genre known for its bittersweet sense of nostalgia. Written by Nando da Cruz, the song expresses deep love, pride, and nostalgia for the island nation, touching on themes of isolation and emigration. While the song is closely associated with legendary Cabo Verdean diva Cesária Évora, Fagundes gives it a personal touch, adding the Brazilian cuica, an instrument known for its haunting, mournful sound.
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