The 60-year-old artist died from a prolonged illness in Lisbon, according to the Cape Verde Cultural Center (CCCV). Instrumentalist and composer, he was part of diva Cesária Évora’s backing band during the tour for her album “miss perfumado”. He also performed with musicians such as Ildo Lobo, Nancy Vieira, Biús, and Sara Tavares.
Vaiss, artistic name of Osvaldo Marcos Dias, died this Friday, in Lisbon, victim of a prolonged illness, the Cape Verde Cultural Center (CCCV) announced this Friday, which described him as “a star of Cape Verdean music” .
“In these first days of 2025, the sky has claimed another star of Cape Verdean music, who will shine alongside the other great ones who have already left”, reads the official Facebook page of the Cabo Verde Cultural Center (CCCV), in Lisbon.
Osvaldo Marcos Dias, known as Vaiss, “had a career full of successes”both in his own name and alongside other Cape Verdean artists residing in the archipelago and in the Diaspora.
Born on the island of Santo Antão in 1965, and raised in São Vicente, left for Lisbon at the invitation of Cape Verdean artist Banawhere he settled and consolidated his career as a professional guitarist.
Instrumentalist and composer, he was part of the support band for diva Cesária Évora during the tour of the album “miss perfumed”. He also performed with musicians such as Ildo Lobo, Nancy Vieira, Biús, e Sara Tavares.
Released the album “sodade cá bô fronta’n” [Saudade não me afronta]in which he sings and plays, demonstrating his versatility. Furthermore, he collaborated with foreign artists, reinforcing the universal character of Cape Verdean music.
In 2015, he was distinguished as best music producer at the Cabo Verde Music Awards for the album “panu terra [pano de terra]”.~
Cape Verdean singer Cremilda Medina also mourned the loss of the musician on his Facebook page: “Today we lost an excellent musician, a guardian of our culture and tradition, a professional, a friend and colleague.”
