Mário Marta / Facebook
Mario Marta
Singer was 53 years old. It was known for its mornas and coladeiras. “Pertencer” was one of the songs at Festival da Canção 2026.
Cape Verdean singer Mário Marta died, on Thursday, at the age of 53, in Lisbon, a family source of the artist who participated in the This year’s Song Festival.
“Mário Marta stood out as an artist of great sensitivity and dedication to Cape Verdean music, gaining the respect of the public, inside and outside the country”, said the family, in a message in which they classify the death as “an irreparable loss for national music and culture”.
Known for his connection to warm e gluers, genres of traditional Cape Verdean music, Mário Marta was born on August 30, 1972, in Guinea-Bissau, the son of a Guinean father and a Cape Verdean mother.
He lived in Guinea-Bissau and Angola, before settling in Portugal.
Throughout his career, he participated in festivals such as Morna Fest and the Atlantic Music Expo (AME), one of the main international music events held in Cape Verde.
This year, he performed at the Festival da Canção with the theme “Pertencer” by Djodje, but without making it to the final.
In a statement, the Ministry of Culture of Cape Verde expressed regret over the singer’s death, highlighting him as “a striking voice that united, with sensitivity and authenticity, cultural roots” and “a singular interpreter, endowed with an intense stage presence and a voice full of emotion and identity.”
“Mário Marta stood out as a passionate and excellent interpreter of traditional Cape Verdean music, bringing these genres to new audiences, without ever losing their essence,” he added.
The Cape Verdean Music Society also highlighted that the artist built a career “marked by talent, authenticity and a strong connection with the mornas and coladeiras, earning the respect and admiration of the public, both in Cape Verde and in the diaspora”.
“His departure represents a big loss for national culture and music. He will be remembered not only for his voice, but also for his humility, generosity and artistic contribution,” he said.
