Angolan artist and composer Né Gonçalves will release his long-awaited album Undenge Wetu on March 21, 2025.
This innovative project confirms Gonçalves‘ passion for the national musical style semba, while seamlessly integrating various musical influences, contributing to the album reaching different audiences and musical tastes.
The thirteen-song album, with the participation of 58 musicians from ten countries, recorded in different latitudes, includes themes of different styles, of which three stand out that exemplify Né Gonçalves’ creative vision:
“Undenge Wetu” – the theme that gives the album its title and features the participation of Yuri da Cunha, paying homage to the roots of semba and celebrating, in a vibrant way, the country’s musical heritage.
“Voo do Fado” – Released as a single, this song presents a captivating combination of Portuguese fado and Angolan semba. With the beautiful voice of Portuguese fado singer Soraia Cardoso, the song artfully combines the traditional instrumentation of fado with the soul of semba, forging a unique musical connection between the two cultures, bringing Né to the stage of Santa Casa Alfama 2022.
“Bus Odjos” – This piece highlights the collaboration with Cape Verdean artist Tito Paris, one of the greatest voices of the current musical styles of the archipelago and its diaspora, offering a sublime and enchanting morna.
Né Gonçalves has been a singer and composer with a significant presence on the Angolan music scene for many years, and with a rich discography that includes acclaimed albums such as Luanda Meu Semba (1994), Luanda Meu Semba – Instrumental (2012) and Sembamar (2016), and now it is the turn of Undenge Wetu (2025).
In addition, he contributed to film soundtracks, including “In the Empty City” by Maria João Ganga and “Kalunga, The Sea of Angola” by Bernardo Gramaxo. Né has developed a remarkable career through collaborations with renowned figures in international music, including the famous Portuguese fado singer Mariza, and has the Peruvian Jorge Cervantes as his producer.
The album Undenge Wetu makes clear Né Gonçalves’ artistic vision and his dedication to expanding the horizons of Angolan music.
Not only does it pay homage to Angola’s rich musical legacy, honouring traditional roots and reinterpreting semba with mastery and innovation, but it also ventures into new domains through stylistic multiplicity and partnerships with artists from diverse traditions.
Music lovers and music lovers around the world can anticipate an interesting listening experience with the release of Undenge Wetu on March 21, 2025.
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