Delta Cultura

I don’t sing, dance or drum Batuku; when I’m doing Batuku I AM Batuku!
(Cutchinha; Singer of the Batukaderas Delta Cultura)

Batuku is a traditional combination of drumming, dancing, and singing with its origin on the Island of Santiago. It is primarily practiced by women. A precentor sings about ordinary events, experiences, as well as politics and culture – for the most part in an amusing but also critical way. The choir repeats and the song becomes noticeably intensive until it culminates in the Tornu, a dance which is performed by two or three dancers.
The following video is a better means of description than any written word to show what Batuku is and what Cutchinha is trying to express.

Marisa from Delta Cultura Cabo Verde, who has been an enthusiastic Batuku singer, drummer, and dancer since her early childhood, has created two Batuku groups.

The first group – Batukaderas Delta Cultura – was created in February 2004. It consists of fourteen girls and women between 10 and 30 years of age. They meet three times a week – throughout the whole year – on the porch of Marisa’s house to practice Batuku and discuss the events and problems of their everyday lives. Countless performances have made the Batukaderas Delta Cultura known on the entire island and beyond. The highlights:

• Traditional parish festivals on the Island of Santiago
• At all the major venues in the capital Praia: Quintal da Música, Assembléia Nacional, Centro Cultural Françes, Liceu Domingos Ramos, Gamboa, etc.
• Performances on the Islands Maio, São Vicente and Santo Antão
• Tour in Austria in 2008

Given that the preservation of the tradition of Batuku is the main motivation of the group, and that it does not pursue any commercial interests, it regularly performs at weddings, baptisms, etc., too.

The formation of the second Batuku group Batukinias Fidjus di Delta (Delta’s Children – meaning Delta Cultura) with 20 children between 5 and 13 years of age happened almost on its own. More and more very young girls were continuously attending the practices of the “tall ones“ and wanted to drum, dance, and sing as well. Marisa attended to them and they had their first major performance at the birthday ceremony for the Batukaderas Delta Cultura on February 26th 2006.
By now, the little ones have been able to gain ample experience on stage. Their success is overwhelming. They are already known and in demand all over the island too. A CD and DVD of the Batukinias Fidjus di Delta will be released in the beginning of 2010.

In addition to creating the two Batuku groups, Marisa has also launched the only major Batuku festival where up to 20 groups perform. The festival took place for the first time in 2006 and has since been organized by Delta Cultura every year.

I don’t sing, dance or drum Batuku; when I'm doing Batuku I AM Batuku! (Cutchinha; Singer of the Batukaderas Delta Cultura) Batuku is a traditional combination of drumming, dancing, and singing with its origin on the Island of Santiago. It is primarily practiced by women. A precentor sings about ordinary events, experiences, as well as politics and culture – for the most part in an amusing but also critical way. The choir repeats and the song becomes noticeably intensive until it culminates in the Tornu, a dance which is performed by two or three dancers. The following video is a better means of description than any written word to show what Batuku is and what Cutchinha is trying to express. Marisa from Delta Cultura Cabo Verde, who has been an enthusiastic Batuku singer, drummer, and dancer since her early childhood, has created two Batuku groups. The first group – Batukaderas Delta Cultura – was created in February 2004. It consists of fourteen girls and women between 10 and 30 years of age. They meet three times a week – throughout the whole year – on the porch of Marisa’s house to practice Batuku and discuss the events and problems of their everyday lives. Countless performances have made the Batukaderas Delta Cultura known on the entire island and beyond. The highlights: Traditional parish festivals on the Island of Santiago At all the major venues in the capital Praia: Quintal da Música, Assembléia Nacional, Centro Cultural Françes, Liceu Domingos Ramos, Gamboa, etc. Performances on the Islands Maio, São Vicente and Santo Antão Tour in Austria in 2008 Given that the preservation of the tradition of Batuku is the main motivation of the group, and that it does not pursue any commercial interests, it regularly performs at weddings, baptisms, etc., too. The formation of the second Batuku group Batukinias Fidjus di Delta (Delta’s Children – meaning Delta Cultura) with 20 children between 5 and 13 years of age happened almost on its own. More and more very young girls were continuously attending the practices of the “tall ones“ and wanted to drum, dance, and sing as well. Marisa attended to them and they had their first major performance at the birthday ceremony for the Batukaderas Delta Cultura on February 26th 2006. By now, the little ones have been able to gain ample experience on stage. Their success is overwhelming. They are already known and in demand all over the island too. A CD and DVD of the Batukinias Fidjus di Delta will be released in the beginning of 2010. In addition to creating the two Batuku groups, Marisa has also launched the only major Batuku festival where up to 20 groups perform. The festival took place for the first time in 2006 and has since been organized by Delta Cultura every year. [gallery link="file"]