Dino D' Santiago

Dino D’Santiago grew up in a musical home in the south of Portugal, and his Cape Verdean parents were part of a local church music choir. It was in this choir that he and his two other siblings started singing every Sunday until he left home, to be part of a talent show on television and pursue a career as a singer/songwriter. After relocating to Lisbon, his experience in the choir made him the go-to vocalist for a generation of hip hop and RnB music acts in Portugal.

In 2010, he followed his father on a journey back to their family roots in the Santiago island, where he finally got to change his music trajectory and connect with the soul of Cape Verdean music, showcased on his album Eva (Lusafrica, 2013). Since then, Dino d’Santiago has been devoting his talent to bridging together the traditional morna, batuku, and funaná with contemporary R&B and global club music.

He has won Best Local Artist, Best Album for his second album Mundu Nôbu and Critics’ Choice at Portugal’s Play Awards. In 2020, he was a key influence on Madonna's latest album Madame X, collaborating with her and joining her on stage in Lisbon. His third album, Kriola was released in 2020.