Mashup: Boy Gé Mendes and "Cumba Iétu"

Today's random song is by a Senegalese musician of Cape Verdean descent. Gerard Mendes, who is known more popularly as Boy Gé Mendes, was born in Dakar, Senegal and raised in the expatriate Cape Verdean community there. He was steeped in the music of his culture such as morna and coladeira, but also exposed to music from other parts of Africa including Senegal, Mali, Guinea and other African countries of the region, as well as rock, R&B and Cuban music. Moving to France, he formed Cabo Verde Show with his brother and other musicians. The band eventually became one of the most popular Cape Verdean act of all time. His influences still range widely due to his extensive travels in countries such as the United States, Brazil and West Africa and one of his children, Mika Mendes, has become a well-known zouk singer. You can find this song, Cumba Iétu, on his 1998 CD Lagoa, a remixed version on his 2011 CD Best of Boy Gé Mendes, and on the compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde (1999).