Justino Delgado
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Legendary Guiné Bissau artist Justino Delgado, is revered as the most important singer ever to have graced his native country. His voice, rich in timbre containing an enormous vocal range and capacity to touch the human ear is recognised as the consummate artist. As a vocalist, lyricist and composer, he has used his music and art to change and shape the politics of his country. This impact has given him the reputation of being a true ambassador for his people and as described by former Cape Verdian diva Cesária Évora as being: the most important singer ever in African music. He is not only known as the father of west African song but is cherished as an active humanitarian, political activist and adviser to the prime minister and leader of his country. He combines these passions with a dedication and vigour seen rarely in most individuals.
Justino Gomes Delgado, known as 'Juju' to close family and friends, was born on November 03, 1963, in Onhocomo, Ilha dos Bijagós. He was firmly connected to his roots and was raised on the island of Bijagós by his parents both stemming from typical tribes from the island. His father Tomas Gomes, from the tribe of Mancanha and his mother Basiliana Gomes, from the tribe of Papel. It is said that he received his vocal talent from his mother, who possessed a naturally beautiful singing voice and his energetic dancing moves from his father, who was well known in the region as a talented dancer. His talent for singing and extreme high level of intelligence was discovered at a young age and under the watchful eye of his parents and he began his artistic career and studies at the Bubaque Center of the Bijagós Archipelago. In 1973, he moved to the city of Bissau where he started to make his mark on the musical scene of Guinean music.
In 1978, he founded and lead the student-youth musical group called: Flower of Africa, from which he rose quickly in popularity and fame. In 1979 he was invited to join the group África Livre, one of the most famous youth bands in Bissau at that time. This group was composed of musicians of great notoriety: his brother Nélson, renowned Manecas Costa, Beto Afanche, Jorge Mino and Djanuno Dabó. They went on to win first place in the competition/festival J.A.A.C. (African Youth Amilcar Cabral Competiion), this competition was made by the PAIGC government and it was done only one time and never again. There, he sang two songs at this competition which drew attention: Ai Sigi: a song about unrequited love, and Djom Djom Ba Luta: which was a commentary on the regime of João Viera at that time. The latter gave him a lot of problems due to its political content and made him a target for the regime, a sentiment that they would later exercise in limiting his freedom of speech and existence.
From 1982 to 1984 he invested energy in his solo career, where he made many appearances as a special guest artist in concerts with groups: Africa Livre, Super Mama Djombo and Nkassa Cobra. Throughout this time, his great hits were: N’duba Nancy, Nhibina Deus, Garandi and Nbê na bu Lopé, which made his music known throughout Guinea Bissau. Between 1982 and 1986 he led three musical ensembles: Africa Livre, Super Mama Djombo and Nkassa Cobra. In those same years, thanks to his arduous efforts, he won several awards and accolades in music competitions and festivals, putting himself on the map as one of the most respected and musical contributors to Guinean and West African music and culture.
As his fame increased, so did his popularity and the renowned artist had a big following not only as a vocalist and composer but also as a political figure. He started using his voice and talent as a vehicle to express the political climate in Guinea Bissau which was very hostile and heated. In 1985 he was asked to sing in a campaign against the rise in power of President João Bernardo Vieira to raise awareness to the Guinean people, he used this opportunity as a means of warning his people of the hard times that were soon to come from the negative destiny of the feared dictator. This dictatorship regime would in the end be overthrown 20 years later ending in some of the worst bloodshed and violence the country would ever witness.
It was during this time that Juju was forbidden to leave the country, in fact he was only permitted to reside within the territory of Guinea Bissau. Feeling the weight of political tensions, the Guinean artist attempted to leave Guinea Bissau for Portugal, but between 1985 and 1986 he was arrested which resulted in an imprisonment that would last for over one year. His prison sentence coincided with the famous house arrest coup d’état of "October 17". Upon his release in 1986 he was asked to participate in another competition/festival organised by the famous newspaper "No Pintcha" where he brought the house down by singing the famous political song: Casamenti D'haós e Colom, the latter speaks of the happenings and history of the beginning of colonialism in Portuguese Guinea. As he was already seen as a political figure, the jury members were adverse to his popularity and purposely interpreted his songs badly, meaning they targeted the artist as criticising the current Viera regime, which he, in this particular incident was not, and as a result they demoted him to 5th place, something that the fans and the critics of the Guinean music scene did not agree with. Oddly enough, the same group Africa Livre, that Justino had created, won best artistic ensemble group in that competition. Subsequently, days later, the festival was broadcasted on national radio and Delgado’s two songs that he sang in the competition/festival, became glorified and famous overnight, the unfortunate mobbing of the jury became his triumph. Months later he founded the musical group "Docolma", which included Guinean musicians: Fernando da Gôia (Bidinte), the Atanásio brothers, "Atchuém" and Rui "Sangará". That same year he recorded at the RDN (National Broadcasting Radio) with musicians : Bila Africano and Docolma a collaboration which was made in honor of his esteemed colleagues.
Soon afterwards Delgado fled Guinnea Bissau in 1987 and went to Dakar, Senegal with renowned guitarist, composer and cousin, Tony Delgado. They stayed in Senegal for a period of six months. Whilst in Senegal, his fame rose while he worked with the National Orchestra of Senegal, the Air Atlantic Orchestra and performed in many festivals/ concerts. During his time there, he discovered that the current prime minister Nino Viera was seriously ill. He decided to make a very strategic move, a decision that would change his future forever. Regardless of his political stance in criticising the Viera regime in the past, he decided to pay homage to the president who, at that time, was suffering from a deteriorating health condition. So, whilst still in Dakar, he wrote two songs in honour of the president and sent them to the national radio in Guinea Bissau. The songs were entitled: Biás Veneno and Bom Mindjoria Kaby. This gesture was greatly recognised by Viera and his regime and it in fact acted as a peace treaty between the two facilitating an easy re-entry for the artist to return to Guinee-Bissau, which he did promptly. As soon as he arrived, he was immediately invited to perform in an AIDS festival organised by the OMS. He not only hosted this concert but also performed in it singing the exact same two songs that he wrote for President Viera. The crowd was ecstatic and Juju triumphed once again as the star of Guinean music and politics. In this same year, he was invited to participate in the Festival of Journalists Lusófonos that took place in Portugal. It was the first contact that the musician would have with the Portuguese speaking countries.
After his departure to Lisbon Portugal in 1988 Junstino Delgado, lived in a pension in Cais do Sodré. During this time, the famous fires of Lisbon occurred, burning many buildings and warehouses to the ground. In homage to the victims and to the city he wrote two songs, one called: Chiado honouring the district of Chiado and the second called: Sano, commenting upon the death of Myster Demba Sanó who was one of the greatest football coaches of Sporting de Bissau and Bafatá for the national soccer leagues of Guinea Bissau. He recorded both songs, and took yet another spontaneous decision that would shape his future. He impulsively went to RTP (Radio Television Company of Portugal) by himself and gave the songs to Joaquin Letrira who was the main journalist for the program Africanisimo at that time. They were so impressed and touched by his gesture that they immediately offered him a spot to record and film the songs. He brought his band, went there and performed and recorded for RTP. With these songs he had his first TV appearance in Portugal on national television. It was such a success that he was immediately invited to perform on another program on RTP that was called “Estudio 4,” presented by journalist Luis Perreira Sousa. There, he sang the song Biás turmenta, a song about the soulful journey he made to Senegal after his imprisonment in Guinea Bissau. Once again, his sonorous voice and lyrics touched and won the hearts of the public, creating yet again another following and increase in fame, this time in Portugal.
In 1989 he released his first LP "Casamenti D'Haós" which Guinnean criol means: Wedding of Today. This album launched him in Portugal and made him known in Europe and in the rest of the world. At that time artists from Guinea Bissau never really made it outside the country and he was the only one that did. Highlights and hit songs included Bubaque Tchom di Budjugo which involved a collaboration with the great Cabo Verdean musician Paulino Vieira, it was recorded in Lisbon. The album was a tribute to the Island of Bijagós, Justino’s birth place. After the release of this album, he sang an epic sold out concert to huge crowds at the national stadium in Bissau, with the participation of musicians: Micas Cabral on drums, the Atanásio Atchuén brothers and Rui Sangará on back ground vocals. On the wings of rising success, he was then invited to represent Guinea Bissau at the Pyongyang Festival in North Korea where he sang, dazzled and impressed numerous audiences. Upon his return to Guinea Bissau he gave many concerts, both in the Guinean capital and in other regions of the country featuring great hits like Nmisty riba Ptongtan(I want to go back to Pyongyang), Punduntum. In that same year, he was ranked winner of the festival and competitioin: Radio France International, held in Bissau, where he sang another hit song: Fugon ky si Berco.
At the end of the 80’s/early 90’s, the artist participated in several concerts and tours in Portugal, Guinea Bissau, Angola, Cape Verde, Senegal, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, United Kingdom Etc. In 1991 he released his second album Lola. Amongst many songs was the hit tune Montpellier written in homage to the city of Montpellier, France which he sang with the famous Angolan artist Eduardo Paim, and Guinean friend and colleague Fernando da Gôia (Bidinte). Lola received the golden album award in Portugal.
In 1992 he released his third album Gabiana with the participation of great Guinean musician Manecas Costas on rhythm and bass guitars. The latter focussed on referring greatly to the suffering in prisons that targeted Guinea-Bissau between 1985 and 1986. In 1993 he was again invited to perform in a huge concert at the "Lino Correia" stadium and at the Franco-Guinean Cultural Center where on that occasion, the announcement of the results of the first legislative and presidential elections held in Guinea-Bissau were announced. This momentous occasion in Guinean history was celebrated by the music of Justino Delgado’s song Gabiana which was heard in the Palace of the Republic in honour of these elections. Justino’s voice again, reached out to his people in political jubilance.
In 1995 he released one of his more well known albums Tetété in which he participated with Manecas Costa, Tony Dúdu, and the Portuguese Fado singer: Mariza. In 1996 he was invited to perform a mega concert at the National Stadium in Bissau to15 thousand people. After returning from enormous success to Portugal the musician continued with tours in Angola, Cape Verde, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Holland, Switzerland and the US.
In 1997 he released his fourth album Geraçon Lobo, which had a different influence as a big portion of it had been recorded in Brazil.The Album had the participation of renowned vocalists: Liana Tina, Maurício J Barbosa and Clóvis Lardo. Among many songs featured was the hit song Telefone which was a personal homage to his father who had been very ill.
In 1998, Guinea Bissau suffered another political, military conflict in Bissau and the artist decided to release his fifth album called Toroco. Such songs featuring hits like: Kuma ku bô sta, Pancinera and Alal were collaborated with the vocals of Mariza.
In 2000 he released his sixth album Farol. Simultaneously the elections were taking place again back in Guinnea Bissau and he was invited by the Social Renewal Party (PRS) led by Koumba Yalá, to contribute musically as an intervention in the election, this was the highest honour and position anyone could have in the Guinean magistracy. Following this political and artistic victory, the artist continued giving extensive tours and concerts throughout the world.
In 2001 he performed in Lisbon in the high profile gala concert entitled "May 25 of Africa" held in honour at Expo. In that same year, he won the top prize as the best author/lyricist, composer and voice to expose the highest quality of Guinean music not only in Africa but of all of the Portuguese speaking colonies. This award was called the Coliseu prize, it is the top award for modern African music in Portugal. This distinction was acknowledged by the authorities in Bissau bequeathing him the title of ambassador of Guinean music, an honour most high distinguishing him with a diplomatic passport.
In 2004 he released the album Ley di Byda album. In this album we can hear songs like Marcas do Tempo among other great hits. In 2007 he released his album entitled Dum D'tchom where you can listen to songs paying homage to his deceased great colleagues from the Guinean music scene. In 2014 he released the album Estátua, big hits from the album were: Estátua, Homanagem pa Jugadoures de bola, Maria Augusta, Garaça de emigrante, Dia cum lundju bô, Funana de l’embranças, Cobardo, Telefone Bom, Entre Encrespada Cu Paridi.
Since then the artist has performed internationally at the following festivals and celebrations: Expo de Sevilha, the inauguration of RTP at the Roma Cinema in Lisbon, the Luso Festival in Macau, the Senegal festival of Artes Negras, Festival of Marcher des arts in Côte d’Ivoir, Festival international Casamança Ziguinçhor with Youssou N'Dour and Salif Keita(twice), all of the international festivals in Cabo Verde and in 2017 he performed with Koffi Olomide and Fally Ipupa in his native Guinea Bissau.
Having had a career spanning over thirty years, his music has reached out to his people in such a way that he has been and continues to be an inspiration to all young artists. His songs have been recognised for their artistic and poetic content, his famous dance steps are imitated throughout the land for their vigour and agility. In short, he has become an icon, idol and a true voice of his people.
Corresponding to his illustrious career he was nominated and became the president of the association for artists and musicians of Guinea Bissau, otherwise known as SIKO, a title that he continues to hold to this day. Considering the path of his career and the impact of his music, it is not a surprise that with these elements he was encouraged to continue to use his popularity to reach out to his people not only musically but politically. The government saw him as a way of functioning as a bridge between the administration and the citizens of Guinea Bissau. As a result, he participated in several election campaigns one in 2008 the distinguished artist stunned everyone with his political stature by being appointed by Prime minister Martinho Ndafa Kabi, as Counselor for the area of Culture and Youth for Guinea Bissau. These functions were reconditioned and repeated with other successive governments in Guinea Bissau and remain in continuation to this day. Subsequently, he has been involved and invited to be a part of the government four times as consolatory adviser with: Martinho Ndafa Kabi PGC, Carlos Correia PGC, Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo PGC and as special consultant to Florentino Mendes Pereira.
For this reason, and many others, Guineans and the citizens of Guinea Bissau have distinguished Justino Delgado not only as their "golden boy” who is the greatest contributor to Guinean music and culture of all time but also as an official emblematic symbol to his people. A treasure to his country in all ways, he represents the voice of past, present and future of Guinea Bissau inspiring all those who know his exceptional artistry, diplomacy and story.
Justino Delgado[edit]
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