Artist page

**Zé Manel** Zé Manel, born on May 22, 1957, in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, is a renowned singer and multi-instrumentalist. At the age of six, he formed a band, Super Mama Djombo, which played at various events such as weddings and birthday parties. By seven, he had become the main attraction of the band, which later evolved into Orchestra Mama Djombo, a significant cultural force expressing Guinea-Bissau's new national identity after gaining independence from Portugal. In the mid-1980s, the pressures of success led to the disbandment of Orchestra Mama Djombo. Zé released his first solo album, *Tustumunhos di Aonti* (Yesterday's Testimony), in 1982, which addressed the emergence of a repressive ruling class and became a national sensation. However, due to increasing political tensions, Manel was given a scholarship to study abroad for his safety. He studied classical music, opera, and piano at a Portuguese conservatory before performing in Paris for a year. He then relocated to Oakland, California, to set up a studio. His second solo album, *Maron di mar*, marked his return to Guinea-Bissau after a long absence and resonated deeply with the people, reinstating him as a national hero. Through his music, Zé Manel continues to advocate for dignity and democracy in a society striving to affirm its identity.

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