An African Carnival song, popularized by Cesária Évora, that extols the virtues of the yearly “Carnaval” on the Cape Verdean island of Sao Vicent, comparing its celebrations favorably to those in the most carnal of all Carnival-celebrating countries, Brazil. The Cape Verde Islands, located off Africa’s West Coast, was a Portuguese colony and served as a last stop port for Portuguese ships on their way to the New World, especially those bearing slaves. West African and Portuguese cultures met in Cape Verde; in Brazil they became inextricably bound.

Country: Cape Verde
Language: Portuguese
Genre: Morna/Samba

Lyrics of All Around This World version
I thought I knew Sao Vicente with its happiness and colors but it couldn’t be much better than during Carnaval
I thought I knew Sao Vicente with its happiness and colors but it couldn’t be much brighter than during Carnaval

Sao Vicente is like Brazil, there is joy on every corner,
During Carnaval there is peace for all, during Carnaval.