Cape Verde - Ildo Lobo died of a heart attack in the morning of October 20th, 2004, at his home in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Son of Antoninho Lobo, who was also a singer, Ildo was descended from a long line of musicians and vocalists. Born in Pedra de Lume on the island of Sal on the 25th November 1953, this giant ­ both physically and in terms of his talent ­ had been in poor health for a number of months.

While Cesaria Evora, known internationally by the affectionate title "The Barefoot Diva", became the ambassador of the Atlantic archipelago, many felt that Ildo Lobo was "the" voice of Cape Verde. Like other great heroes of Cape Verde, such as Amilcar Cabral, Renato Cardoso and Abilio Duarte, Ildo Lobo was one of those men whose political message was inseparably linked to the musical expression and poetry of mornas.

Ildo Lobo had just recorded a new album in Paris this summer, accompanied by Cesaria Evora's musicians. Incondicional should be released at the end of this year on the Harmonia label in Cape Verde and then at the start of 2005 on the Lusafrica label throughout the rest of the world.

Incondicional, whose title clearly illustrates the singer's uncompromising character, opens with the last morna he wrote: Nha Fidjo Matcho, the advice of a father to his son. It also features Alto Cutelo, a coladera written by Renato Cardoso (one of Amilcar Cabral's political heirs, who was mysteriously assassinated at the start of the 80s), two songs by Betu (Adalberto Silva, his constant companion) and three by Constantino Cardoso (Ildo Lobo wanted to give the young writer his chance).

[Buy his CDs, Intelectual and Nos Morna].