Carmen Souza combines English sea shanties with Cape Verdean rhythms

Carmen Souza's latest album is inspired by the little-known British influence on the Cape Verde islands.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersHow old English sea shanties inspired Cape Verdean singerPatrícia PascalWhen she was a young child and taking too long to get ready for school, family get-togethers or to sing in the church choir, Cape Verdean musician Carmen Souza was often told to "ariope".

What she did not realise until years later was that the Creole word came directly from the English word "hurry up".

"We have so many words that derive from the British English," Souza, a jazz singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, tells the BBC.

"'Salong' is 'so long', 'fulespide' is 'full speed', 'streioei' is 'straightaway', 'bot' is 'boat', and 'ariope' - which I always remember my father saying to me when he wanted me to pick up my pace."

Ariope is now one of eight songs that Souza has composed for the album Port'Inglês - meaning English port - to explore the little-known history of the 120-year-old British presence in Cape Verde. It started off as research for her master's degree.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg7vwlg8rmo

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