Elida Almeida: Tiny Desk x globalFEST

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Ashley Pointer | March 31, 2025
In 2021, the Tiny Desk x globalFEST series was created to promote international music discovery. For the fifth edition, we present artists from Cabo Verde, France and Colombia.

When we shot this concert in early January, it was nearly freezing outside. But the moment Elida Almeida stepped behind the Tiny Desk, her powerful voice, the vivid stories from her native Cabo Verde, and the irresistible rhythms of her band quickly warmed us up… and got us moving.

Draped in a striking lime-green satin dress, Almeida opens the show with a two-song medley of "Djam Odja" and "Mudjei." Keys take center stage as drums and rhythm guitar drive the pulse, while she sings of her journey leaving her hometown of Santiago — it's the largest island of Cabo Verde, located off the coast of West Africa. Transitioning into "Mudjei," an ode to womanhood, she makes a declarative statement: "This song talks about women, one of the most beautiful creatures God created," before inviting the audience into a lively call-and-response, teaching them the phrase "woman" in Cape Verdean Creole.

The band follows with "Dipalbesa," a rousing ballad that captures the moment of losing yourself in a relationship. Then, the unmistakable sound of the accordion cues "Funana," a tribute to the traditional music and dance style of Cabo Verde, its infectious rhythm sweeping through the room.

Almeida closes the set with her biggest hit, "Bersu d'Oru," an electrifying tune that had everyone on their feet. While this may be your introduction to Elida Almeida, her soul-stirring storytelling and magnetic charm are sure to keep you coming back. Through her music, she carries the heart of Cabo Verde to the world, bridging cultures with every note.

SET LIST
"Djam Odja / Mudjei"
"Dipalbesa"
"Funana"
"Bersu d'Oru"

MUSICIANS
Elida Almeida: vocals
Kalu Ferreira: piano
Cau Paris: drums
Jery Bidan: guitar
Mayo: bass

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Ashley Pointer
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Photographer: Grace Raver
Creative Designer: Jackie Lay
Tiny Desk Team: Lars Gotrich, Dora Levite
globalFEST Team: Isabel Soffer, Bill Bragin, Shanta Thake, Priscila Santana, Ian Thake
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #elidaalmeida
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Oh My GOD look at me!🤩
Thank you😍
KABUBERDI 🇨🇻

elidaalmeida
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Finally Tiny Desk meets my Tiny country 🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻

BATCHART
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Elida Almeida is just the tip of the iceberg, Cabo Verde and its diaspora is the country with the highest density of amazing artists per capita imho: from Lura, Dino D'Santiago, Mayra Andrade, Cesária Évora, June Freedom, Sara Tavares... It's just astonishing that such a small place could gift the world so much. I feel indebted.

BicyclePhilia
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Thank u for representing us, Queen 🙌🏿🇨🇻🤴✨

Trakinuz
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Não conhecia Elida. Infelizmente, o Brasil é uma ilha linguística onde nossa cultura gira em torno de si mesma e da cultura norte-americana. E é incrível como sempre sou surpreendido por artistas de língua portuguesa ao redor do mundo. Obrigado, Tiny Desk! Vocês são necessários!❤

glauberbrumer
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I'm from Angola, but I feel so happy to see the representation of a PALOP country in the Tiny Desk❤❤

VictóriaRafael-ok
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Been a fan of npr for years seeing artist from my country getting this recognition feels amazing😍😍🙏🏾 🇨🇻

Scarylucas
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20 mins ago I didn't know who this creative genius was, now I'm a fan 🪭. Thanks NPR. ♥️

avbroooo
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I love her dress 💚 her hair and her voice, so beautiful 😍. Thank you Tiny desk for the introduction to Cabo Verden music

MsGH
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Being a fan of Tinydesk and seing my language and my flag being recognized on the show 😍
🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻

djenitsapires
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O meu querido Cabo Verde,

Sou colombiano 🇨🇴, mas o amor que sinto por essas ilhas e pela sua música é inexplicável. Um dia, pisarei as tuas terras para desfrutar das melodias da coladeira e das mornas ❤️🇨🇻.

CaDoEs
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AFRICA NU CV odja undi ki nu Africa stand
Beautiful performance!!!! I was watching with a smile, dancing and proud of it! Perfect representation of our culture and music, all it was missing was handing out some plates of kachupa to the crowd 😂😂❤

theelitepowerwithinyou
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Such a solid voice with a nice subtle vibrato. The band is very talented.

sondraburnham
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Wow, what an incredibly talented musician! Her unique style and captivating sound really caught my attention. I'm eager to listen and discover more of her work. A special thanks to NPR for introducing me to this wonderful artist!

thatgforlife
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Wow, never heard of her, love it! Thanks for bringing her to my attention <3 v<3 <3 Paz y amor desde Baviera <3 <3 <3

Hundhammer
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My country on tiny desk 🇨🇻. We appreciate the recognition 🙌

VaNick_LV
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I'm from Mozambique and I recently discovered this amazing talent through Spotify recommendations...and, today, YouTube recommended me this wonderful session...you know what?! She is now my favorite musician from Cabo Verde...I just can't stop listening to her angelical voice...

RealdoDias
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Elida represents Cape Verde very well! Really proud!🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻

suelytavares
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So proud to see my country Cabo Verde in a such great stage, where the best musicians of the world played.

dibango
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OMG. She made it to NPR. Im a big fan of her, and i feel so proud to be Cape Verdean right now.

davidduarte